Tacoma Link Light Rail
Getting around downtown Tacoma is easy with the Tacoma Link Light Rail.
The Tacoma Link Light Rail provides service from one end of downtown to the other. Hop on to ride between the 13 stops at: the Tacoma Dome, South 25th Street, Union Station, the Convention Center, South 11th Street, Theater District, Old City Hall, South 4th Street, Stadium District, Tacoma General Hospital, 6th Avenue, Hilltop District, and St. Joseph's Hospital.
The Link Light Rail operates 365 days-a-year. Parking is free in the six-story Link garage located next to the Tacoma Dome Station. The Link travels between ends approximately every 12 minutes. Check the schedule for train frequency.
Hours of Operation
- Mondays through Fridays: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m
- Sundays and Holidays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tacoma Dome Station [424 E. 25th St.]
- Tacoma Dome Station is a transportation hub with train rail, bus and light rail
- Pop in to Freighthouse Square for food, shops, antiques and art galleries
- Adjacent to the station, the Tacoma Dome holds concerts, meetings and sporting events
South 25th Street Station [South 25th + A Street]
- Have an All-American burger at this popular joint, Chalk Talk Bistro, or try a deep-fried hot dog, old-school burger or gluten-free meal at Friesenburgers
Union Station [Pacific Avenue + South 19th Street]
- Easily walk to Chihuly Bridge of Glass, Museum of Glass, Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum and Union Station
- Hop off at Holiday Inn Express + Suites Tacoma
- Choose from a number of great places to eat like Indochine, Tim's Kitchen, and El Gaucho
- Shop along the boutique stores on Pacific Avenue
Convention Center Station [Commerce Street + South 15th Street]
- Stop by the Visitor Information Center at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center for Tacoma + Pierce County resources
- Head to the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center for a conference or event
- Stay overnight at the Courtyard Marriott or Hotel Murano
- Dine at the KOI Japanese Cuisine.
South 11th Street Station [Commerce Street + South 11th Street]
- From May to October, visit the Tacoma Farmers Market on Broadway Street for fresh local foods, crafts and music
- Enjoy lunch or dinner at Galanga Thai and many other great restaurants
Theater District Station [Commerce Street + South 9th Street]
- Tacoma City Theaters offers a variety of year-round entertainment at Pantages, Rialto, and Theater on the Square
- Adjacent to the Theater District is Antique Row, where numerous shops offer a wide range of antiques and collectibles
Old City Hall [Commerce Street + South 7th Street]
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Head to McMenamin’s Elk’s Temple for shows at the Spanish Ballroom, six restaurants and bars, and artsy hotel rooms, all with stunning views of the city and the Puget Sound.
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Dorky’s Arcade is an 80’s-style arcade with video games, pinball, pizza, and beer.
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Hungry? You’ll find romantic ambiance at Over the Moon Cafe, great pizza and more at Wooden City Tacoma, and your favorite dish at Thai Pepper.
South 4th [South 4th Street + South Stadium Way]
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Wright Park is 27 acres containing 600 trees, a spray area in the summertime, and a pond.
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W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is a botanical garden located in Wright Park. Among their collection is over 200 orchids!
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Enjoy Japanese food with a modern take at Zen Ramen and Sushi Burrito, find a treat at beloved Corina Bakery, and eat a classic diner breakfast at The Hob Nob.
Stadium District [North 1st Street + North G Street]
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Fun fact: this stop serves Stadium High School, where they filmed “10 Things I Hate About You.”
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Have an exquisite breakfast or lunch at Art House Cafe, one of Tacoma’s best burgers at Shake Shake Shake, or grab a beer from the deep selection at Parkway Tavern.
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Since 2007, Cosmonaut Coffee has been serving some of the best coffee in the area from this humble stand.
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Locals know the Stadium Thriftway is a great spot for produce and groceries, and North Slope Coffee inside the Thriftway is another fantastic coffee option.
Tacoma General [M.L.K. Jr. Way + MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital]
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This stop serves MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital.
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Don’t miss nearby Frisko Freeze for a nostalgic drive-in burger!
6th Avenue [6th Avenue + M.L.K. Jr. Way]
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6th Avenue is home to some of the best food in town. If it’s a nice day, you’re a 12-minute walk west from Korean-fusion Burger Seoul and Southern Kitchen soul food.
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This stop is also near MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital.
Hilltop District [South 11th Street + M.L.K. Jr. Way]
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Dive into fantastic international cuisine, such as Pho King and Tacoma’s No1 Fried Rice.
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You can get a delicious waffle at the kid-friendly Red Elm Cafe, and an excellent cup of coffee at Manifesto Coffee.
St. Joseph [M.L.K. Jr. Way + South 17th Street]
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This stop serves St. Joseph Medical Center.
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Stop by the playground and community gardens at Edna Travis Park.
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Founded by local artist Oliver Doriss, Fulcrum Art Gallery contains Tacoma art and hosts a number of events.
Sea-Tac International Airport
Sea-Tac International Airport is the major airport serving Washington State.
Tacoma is just 18 miles south of the Sea-Tac International Airport with easy access from Interstate-5. Visit Sea-Tac International Airport for information on parking, airlines and passenger services.
Driving Directions
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From the north via Interstate-5: Take Interstate-5 to exit 154 B and drive west on State Route 518 to the Sea-Tac International Airport exit.
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From the north via State Highway 99: Take 99 south. At the First Avenue Bridge stay right and follow State Route 509 south to State Route 518 exit [Burien, Sea-Tac Airport]. Turn left onto 518 and take the Sea-Tac International Airport exit.
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From the south: Take Interstate-5 to exit 154 and drive west on State Route 518 to the Sea-Tac International Airport exit.
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From the east: Take Interstate-405, which turns into State Route 518, to the Sea-Tac International Airport exit.
Public Transit/Shuttle from Sea-Tac Airport to Pierce County
Direct Connection: Pierce Transit’s Route 574 provides a convenient and affordable ride straight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) into Pierce County, serving destinations including Tacoma Dome Station, and Lakewood, making it an easy gateway to the heart of the county. Fare is currently (2025) $3 for adults (19-64), free for youth 18 and under, and connects to your ORCA card. Buses leave approximately every half hour, but check the 574 schedule for more information.
From Tacoma Dome Station, you can connect to several other routes, including the Sounder Commuter Train, and the Tacoma Link Light Rail (also called the T-Line) with access to downtown Tacoma, the Theater District, Stadium District, and Hilltop.
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Affordable Travel: A budget-friendly option compared to shuttles or rideshares, ideal for both solo travelers and families.
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Frequent Service: The bus runs throughout the day with multiple departures, so you can land and be on your way without long waits.
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Connections: At Tacoma Dome Station, riders can connect to local Pierce Transit buses, the Sounder Train, and the Tacoma Link light rail for seamless travel across the region.
Learn more and see the full schedule here: Sound Transit Route 574
Airport Street Address
Main Terminal Building
17801 International Blvd. [Pacific Hwy. S.]
Seattle, WA 98158
TSA Precheck
TSA Precheck lane availability is posted for Sea-Tac, so enter your dates of travel here to see if the lanes will be open. And if you’re not already enrolled in TSA Precheck, you can enroll at Sea-Tac or any of the other nearly 400 enrollment centers in the US. Learn more and apply here.
Sea-Tac Airport Parking
There are several options for parking at Sea-Tac Airport, including valet lots, outdoor parking and garaged parking. Most offer regular shuttles from the terminal to their lots. Popular options include:
The Port of Seattle also offers discounts on airport parking on their site.
Numbers to know when traveling to-and-from the airport:
- Sea-Tac International Airport: [800] 544-1965 or [206] 787-3000
- Premier Airport Shuttle: [800] 962-3579
- Lifestyle Valet: [253] 324-1587
- Shuttle Express Airport Shuttle: [425] 981-7000
- Starline Luxury Coaches: [206] 763-5817
Seattle day-trip from Tacoma via ferry or train
Getting to Seattle from Tacoma via ferry or train
Tacoma and Pierce County hotels offer incredible affordability, right the heart of a cultural urban hub with walkable attractions, nightlife and dining.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a truly unique day by taking a Washington State Ferry, or a local train to also get the full Seattle experience.
Seattle day-trip by train
Getting to Seattle by train:
You have two great options for getting to Seattle by train, you can mix and match the two to have the most flexibility.
Sounder train: If you want to feel like a local ride Sound Transit’s Sounder train (Sounder Lakewood - Seattle Route). Sounder trains leave frequently Monday -Friday. Board in the early morning (prior to 8 a.m.) from the Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square. These trains can be crowded but only take about an hour. Check the schedule for its later train (typically leaves Tacoma Dome Station around 10:30 a.m.) for a more relaxed ride.
Sounder Train World Cup Schedule Adjustments:
Sound Transit is adding Sounder game trains during the six games, and schedule adjustments will be made for some existing trains to serve the World Cup matches.
- For the three weekday matches beginning at noon, Monday, June 15 (Belgium vs. Egypt), Friday, June 19 (USA vs. Australia) and Wednesday, June 24 (UEFA winner vs. Qatar) the Sounder special event train from Lakewood via Tacoma departs at 9:26 a.m., making all station stops to King Street Station. Train 1518, the regularly scheduled 10:11 a.m. departure from Lakewood, will be canceled on all noon gamedays. Postgame, southbound trains to Lakewood and Tacoma will follow the regular S Line schedule.
- For the 8 p.m. Friday, June 26 match, Egypt vs. Iran, the S Line special event train departs Lakewood at 5:16 p.m. Return trains to Lakewood depart one hour after the match, approximately 11pm.
- For the 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 match, teams TBD, the regularly scheduled Train 1518 will serve as the game train from Lakewood, departing at 10:11 a.m. Regularly scheduled S Line service will serve as game trains in the direction of Tacoma and Lakewood.
- For the 5 p.m. Monday, July 6 match, teams TBD, the S Line special event train departs Lakewood at 2:26 p.m. Return trains toLakewood depart one hour after the match, approximately 8 p.m.
Sound Transit has create a special FIFA World Cup 2026 website for passengers taking transit to the games at the Seattle Stadium (800 Occidental Ave. S.) during the tournament to find all the information they need in one place. Visit: https://www.soundtransit.org/soccertournament.
Amtrak Cascade: Amtrak’s Cascade train offers less frequent, but faster service to Seattle. Check schedules and catch the Amtrak train from Tacoma’s Amtrak Station.
Getting back to Tacoma in the evening
Sounder service runs frequently until about 6:30 p.m. Amtrak offers 2 trains in the early afternoon for your ride back.
Seattle day-trip by bus
If you're a night owl, or just want maximum flexibility in your schedule Sound Transit's bus route 594 runs until the wee hours of the night, and offer a comfortable, express route ride to the Tacoma Dome Station and typically only takes a little over an 1 hour depending on traffic. This is also the least expensive option.
Seattle day-trip by ferry
Experience this iconic way of getting around in the Puget Sound region, our Washington State Ferries. With boarding this trip could take up to 2 hours each way. But the experience, views and taste of Puget Sound Island life make it worth it.
Washington State Ferries: Getting to Seattle to Tacoma by Ferry is an adventure that can take you places. There is currently no direct ferry from Tacoma to Seattle, but going by way of Vashon Island lets you see one of the Puget Sound's stunning islands while driving into Seattle. A car is the fastest way to aid this journey. Be sure to get to the ferry dock 15 minutes early to assure a space for your car onboard.
Point Defiance/ Tahlequah (15 minute crossing) : Drive onto the ferry that leaves from the boat launch at Point Defiance Park and goes to Tahlequah (on Vashon Island). Ferries typically leave every hour.
Drive across Vashon Island on Vashon Hwy SW (13 miles) to enjoy the vistas of the Puget Sound. There is also bus service with King County Metro.
Board the Vashon/Fauntleroy Ferry (20 minute direct) on the north end of Vashon island to get to Fauntleroy in West Seattle, just 8 miles from downtown. Now you're ready to make the most out of the day.
Seattle day-trip by car
By far the most flexible option to get from Tacoma to Seattle is by car. Interstate 5 is a straight show between the two cities and just over 30 miles. Uber and Lyft services are available in both cities, and are also an option and average $50 one-way. Traffic can put a slow down during commuting hours, and its recommended you avoid traveling south from Seattle Friday afternoons.