Commuting in Seattle - 2025 Guide

Commuting is an essential aspect of day-to-day life. It should be one of the top things to consider when deciding where to buy a home. For aspiring home buyers with sights set on Seattle, commuting will likely be one of the deciding factors for the neighborhood they choose to settle in.

Traffic in Seattle, like in any major city, is not the smoothest. Seattle doesn’t hold any accolades in that department, but it does offer a large variety of commuting options to fit most residents’ needs. For the most part, the public transportation system is a significant factor in why the Seattle suburbs, and neighborhoods further from downtown Seattle, are so accessible with short commute times.

But first things first, and that’s getting accustomed to how you will commute as a local, whether you settle in Queen Anne or in the idyllic waterfronts of Bellevue. Our team at Prevu has put together a guide to highlight Seattle’s transportation system and help you prepare for your future commutes.

How to commute in Seattle

• ORCA card
• Ferry system
• Rail system
• Bus system
• Highway system

Start commuting with an ORCA card

The ORCA card is the versatile form of payment for Seattle’s public transportation options. It covers the link light rail, buses, streetcars, and ferries and is a must-have if you’re going to commute via the public transit system. 

Like most transit cards, you can fill the ORCA card with cash to cover any commuting expenses. ORCA uses the E-Purse system, which holds up to $300 and functions as a safety net if you want to combine it with passes for ferries or rails. So, for example, the ferry pass would cover your trip on the ferry, and the E-Purse would go towards any other commuting charges afterward.

You also register the ORCA card online so you can easily keep track of all your trips and fares.  

Ferry system

Many of the best neighborhoods in Seattle are built near the waterfront to take advantage of the rich waters. In the old days, they served as fishing villages, but now the waterfronts host luxurious mansions and private docks. But even if you don’t live by the water, one of the best ways to enjoy the view is a daily commute via the ferry.

Primarily used by West Seattle, Bremerton, and Bainbridge Island, the ferry system offers a relaxing way of getting downtown without hassle and delays. Or, if you’re thinking about enjoying the outdoors and going for a hike near Puget Sound, the ferries are an ideal way to get there.  

The Washington State Ferry system is the most extensive operating ferry system in the US. Therefore there are a lot of options for whatever commute you need to make. West Seattle hosts two ferry stations, one near Alki Beach and one in Fauntleroy. 

Alki Beach hosts a Water Taxi service operated by King County Metro Transit, and the trip to Downtown from here is usually 10 minutes. In addition, the Fauntleroy terminal serves the Puget Sound, so folks traveling from Vashon Island or Southworth will dock here. 

The pricing varies depending on the route, but a monthly pass is an average of $120.

Rail system

Seattle’s rail system is surprisingly flexible for a metropolis, consisting of the Sound Transit Rail system, Streetcars, and Monorail systems. Each can help you get to various parts of Seattle and the suburbs and towns outside the city. Rail is also one of the best ways to commute in Seattle.

The Sound Transit Rail system extends as far north as Everett and as far south as Tacoma, making essential stops at the International District in Downtown Seattle. It consists of the Link Light Rail and Sounder trains. The rail system is primarily above ground, so you’ll always have access to data during your commute. 

The link light rail functions from 5:00am to 1:00am, so if you’re enjoying a late night out past 1am, you’ll have to find a taxi or Uber. But for many trips and commutes, the light rail is the support system for traveling between the suburbs and Seattle’s neighborhoods. Its primary route starts at Angle Lake park and ride, passes through Downtown Seattle, University of Washington, and ends at Northgate. 

The trains arrive roughly 6-15 minutes apart, consistently maintaining that schedule throughout the day. It’s also worth noting that Sound Transit has secured funding through 2040 to expand the light rail system out into West Seattle, Queen Anne, and Ballard.

If you’re traveling within the downtown area, you can take the streetcars that run from South Lake Union to downtown. 

Bus system

The King County Metro Transit system has a fleet of buses that operate 237 routes within King County, which includes Seattle. It is also one of the primary forms of public transport for residents of Mercer Island, who can use the Sound Transit express buses to get downtown quickly.

As with any vehicle using the roads, the buses are prone to traffic congestion, so it’s not as convenient as the rail system. The upside is the cheap fare, with an unlimited day pass going for $4.50 while single rides are $2.25.

Buses are the main form of transportation that connect top suburbs like Woodinville, Bellevue, and Mercer Island with the rest of Seattle. Since the light rail doesn’t extend to those towns, commuters can opt for using only the bus or connecting with the light rail lines or the Sounder trains to avoid road traffic. 

Highway system 

Commuting by car is not for the faint of heart or for those looking to get to downtown Seattle quickly. Seattle ranked pretty high as one of the worst commuter cities for drivers since it is no secret how bad traffic can get, especially during rush hour or days of sporting events.

But the highway system is one of the easiest ways to get to towns outside of Seattle or for those who simply prefer to drive. The main highways are I-5, I-90, and I-705. The I-5 is the most commonly used, and of course, the most congested. On average, however, the average commute times via freeway from Seattle’s outlying towns to Downtown don’t exceed more than 30 minutes if there’s no significant traffic.