SEAAirport Guide

Cycling to Seattle airport

Bike racks at SEA, the limit on Sound Transit bike lockers, Smarte Carte storage, and both airport bike entrances.

The Des Moines Creek Trail near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Des Moines Creek Trail

You can reach SEA by bike from Pacific Highway South at either South 176th Street or South 182nd Street. The north approach goes through the SeaTac/Airport Link station and parking garage. The south approach leads to Door 4 on baggage claim Level 3. Leave your bike at a terminal rack or with Smarte Carte on baggage claim. Sound Transit limits rentals of its BikeLink lockers by the station to 10 days.

If you’re carrying your bike onto a plane, the Port of Seattle lists repair stands and pumps near two baggage claim rack areas.

Pick an entrance before you set out

For the north entrance, go to Pacific Highway South and South 176th Street. Take the elevator northeast of the intersection to the pedestrian bridge. It connects to the mezzanine of the SeaTac/Airport Link station. Cross toward the airport, then follow the walkway through the north end of garage Level 4, near Alaska Airlines, to the terminal. You don’t need to buy a train ticket to cross the station bridge.

For the south entrance, turn toward the airport from Pacific Highway South at South 182nd Street. Pass the rental car shuttle area and enter through Door 4 on baggage claim Level 3. You’ll find racks near the door.

Coming back out with your bike? From baggage claim, find Carousel 16 and go up one floor. Cross Skybridge 6, then turn left through garage Level 4 to the Link station and north entrance. For the south approach, head to Door 4 on baggage claim Level 3.

For the street ride, the Port’s bicycle page links to King County’s TrailFinder, Seattle’s bike map and Pierce County’s bike map. You can also bring a bike on Link light rail or King County Metro buses, according to the Port. If you’re combining a ride with a train trip, our Link light rail guide covers the walk from Carousel 16, the fare, and first and last trains.

Where should you leave the bike?

The Port of Seattle doesn’t state a rack fee or guarantee an open space. Check the bicycle listing and the Port’s interactive bike map if your first choice is full.

Spot Find it Best fit and equipment
Atrium Under the escalator near Door 4 and baggage claim Carousel 2 South entrance. Space for 20 bikes, with a tire pump and repair stand
Baggage claim Between Carousels 12 and 13, across from the police booth near the C and D gate exit The Port’s vacation choice. Five vertical hooks, a tire pump and repair stand
Skybridge 6 Garage Level 4, at the end of the light rail walkway near the elevator Closest rack area to Link. Space for 20 bikes. Short-term storage
Skybridge 1 Garage Level 4 near international gates Closest rack area to international arrivals. Space for 10 bikes. Short-term storage

The Port of Seattle’s map also marks bike points by Baggage Claim 13, Doors 2, 4 and 6 and Skybridges 1 and 6.

Smarte Carte Baggage Storage takes bicycles at its desk between Carousels 9 and 10 on Main Terminal baggage claim Level 3. The desk opens daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. It closes from 11:30 a.m. to noon and 6 to 6:30 p.m. The luggage storage listing says storage runs from a few hours to days or weeks. A bicycle costs $125 on Smarte Carte’s price list. The list doesn’t say whether that charge is per day or per stay. Call the listed number, (206) 248-3645, to ask before leaving your bike. The listing says storage is first come, first served, with no reservations. It also says staff ask for ID and hand-search every stored item.

If the bike will stay overnight at a rack, email SEA Customer Care before leaving it. The bicycle listing gives that address. The Port asks for notice and says it may remove bicycles left more than two weeks. The Port of Seattle says it isn’t responsible for stolen or damaged bikes or components.

Lockers are by the station, outside the terminal

BikeLink on-demand lockers stand at street level by the SeaTac/Airport Link station, at Pacific Highway South and South 176th Street. They aren’t the terminal racks.

Check BikeLink’s live location map before relying on a locker. Search for “Sound Transit: SeaTac Station” to see availability. The Port doesn’t publish a locker price on its bicycle resources page, so check BikeLink for the charge and rental instructions.

The pedestrian bridge at the station is open around the clock, the Port and Sound Transit say. The south airport entrance through Door 4, reached by South 182nd Street, is the other way in.

To recycle a bike box at the airport, call the Port of Seattle at (206) 787-5725. The Port’s bicycle page won’t tell you how to pack it for a flight.

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