SEAAirport Guide

Seattle airport to Bellevue

SEA to Bellevue by the hourly shuttle ($30 for one), Route 560 bus, Uber (about $70, 27 minutes) or taxi ($20 minimum). Where each boards and what goes wrong.

The lawn, the cascade wall and the glass towers above the trees in Downtown Park, Bellevue.
Downtown Park, Bellevue

Heading to a Bellevue hotel? The Bellevue shuttle drops you at the hotel you choose. For any other address, Uber is the better fit. Sound Transit’s Route 560 is the bus option, though the airport’s listing gives no fare or ride time for it.

Bellevue is 18 miles from the terminal by Uber’s count. The shuttle, standard app rides and taxis board on garage Level 3, across a skybridge from baggage claim. The bus boards at the baggage claim level.

Which ride costs what from SEA to Bellevue

Option Cost Ride time Boards Runs
Bellevue shuttle (Eagle Towncar Service) $30 for 1 passenger, $50 for 2, $70 for 3, $90 for 4, $105 for 5, $125 for 6 (the operator’s prices) 20 to 30 minutes (the operator’s figure) Garage Level 3, Island 2A, between Skybridges 3 and 4 Hourly from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the airport
Sound Transit Route 560 Not in the airport’s listing Not in the airport’s listing Lower drive at the south end of the Main Terminal, near Door 00 Check Sound Transit for service times
Uber or Lyft Uber averages $70. Check the Lyft app for its price 27 minutes (Uber’s figure) Garage Level 3, Ground Transportation Plaza, stalls 1 to 34 24 hours
Taxi Metered, $20 minimum from SEA, $1 on-demand surcharge allowed No Bellevue time published Garage Level 3, north and south curbs 24 hours
Premier door-to-door van Varies by distance, passengers and service No Bellevue time published Kiosk on garage Level 3 Check with Premier

Which ride fits your group and your address

The shuttle costs less than Uber for one or two passengers, ties it at three and beats an UberXL at four. At five or six passengers, UberXL is cheaper.

Pick by your address:

  • A Bellevue hotel. The Bellevue shuttle. The operator’s page says it drops at your chosen hotel, and for the ride back it picks up at 11 Bellevue hotels, including the Hyatt Regency, Westin and Seattle Marriott. The operator’s page has the full list.
  • A home, office or anywhere else. Uber, a taxi or a Premier van. The operator’s pages talk about hotels, so ask before you book the shuttle for another address.

How the Bellevue shuttle works and where it boards

Eagle Towncar Service runs the Bellevue shuttle, and our scheduled airporters page places it at Island 2A. Book on the operator’s site or call the operator at (206) 227-6004.

To find it from baggage claim, go up to the garage skybridge level, cross the skybridges into the parking garage and go down one level to Level 3. The pickup is Island 2A, between Skybridges 3 and 4. The operator’s directions say the same.

The airport lists SEA-to-Bellevue departures hourly from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. The operator’s site says midnight, while Visit Bellevue’s listing gives 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for rides from the airport.

The Port’s directory says infants 2 and under ride free.

Going the other way

The Port says the shuttle also picks up at designated areas at Bellevue hotels for the return trip.

For a 6 a.m. domestic flight, the Port’s advice is to be at the airport two hours ahead, which is 4 a.m. For an international flight, it says three hours. The operator gives 25 to 35 minutes for the trip from Bellevue. Check the return departure time before you rely on the shuttle for an early flight. Our security checkpoints page lists when each checkpoint opens.

Is there a bus from SEA to Bellevue?

The airport’s directory says Route 560 serves Burien, Renton and Bellevue. It boards on the lower drive at the south end of the Main Terminal, near Door 00. That’s the baggage claim level, so there’s no skybridge and no garage.

The airport’s listing gives no fare, no frequency and no ride time for 560. Route 560 also stops in Burien and Renton on the way. Rome2Rio’s page lists the 560 at $5 and 48 minutes. Those are Rome2Rio’s figures, not the airport’s or Sound Transit’s.

Look for 560. One commenter under a video of a 560 ride wrote that the route “will be terminated and replaced” when Sound Transit’s Stride S1 Line opens. That’s one viewer’s claim, so check Sound Transit’s site to confirm the route still runs when you fly.

The airport’s Link listing describes the 1 Line between Federal Way and Lynnwood and names no Bellevue trip. Rome2Rio’s page lists a 1 Line and 2 Line transfer at about an hour for $9.

What Uber and Lyft cost from SEA to Bellevue

Uber’s page averages each option over the past month.

Uber option Average price (Uber’s page)
UberX $69
Women Drivers $65
Comfort Electric $77
UberXL, up to 6 riders $93
UberXXL, six riders with extra luggage $119

Uber says these prices “do not represent fixed or guaranteed prices,” and timing moves them.

Pickup for Uber and Lyft is the Ground Transportation Plaza on garage Level 3, stalls 1 to 34. From baggage claim, cross a skybridge one level below ticketing, then go down one level. Uber Black and premium rides meet you at the baggage claim door you choose. If you need assistance and can’t cross to the garage, tell your driver and call Ground Transportation at (206) 787-5906 with the driver’s name and plate. Uber, Lyft and Wingz drivers may then pick you up on the airport drives. Our rideshare page also covers Wingz pre-scheduled rides, which use the same garage pickup area.

The channel Metro On The Action said the airport expressway “can get pretty jammed up,” so allow for more than Uber’s 27 minutes.

How much is a taxi to Bellevue?

Taxis are metered only and take cash, card and digital payments. The airport publishes no Bellevue fare, so ask the driver for an estimate before you get in. Rome2Rio lists a taxi at $80 to $100, a figure the airport doesn’t publish. Our taxi page lists the wheelchair-accessible and 11-seat vans.

Premier vans go to any address

Premier Airport Shuttle serves home, hotel and business addresses across Puget Sound, and its list includes Bellevue. It sells a shared ride, its most economical option, and a private non-stop van. Reserve at premierairportshuttle.com/seatac/ or call Premier at 800-962-3579. The kiosk is on garage Level 3, where the Ground Transportation Plaza is.

Driving to or from Bellevue

The Port’s rental car return directions start from downtown Bellevue. Take I-405 south, then SR 518 west toward Burien, then the airport exit. Our rental car guide covers where the return is and the free shuttle to the terminal.

If a friend is collecting you, the airport asks drivers to wait at the Cell Phone Lot, 2623 S. 170th Street, not on the drives or the expressway shoulders. It’s free, with a 20-minute limit. Our cell phone lot page says drivers must stay with their vehicle.

What goes wrong, and what to do

You can’t find the shuttle. Ask at the Ground Transportation Information Booth. Its staff cover airporters and rideshare as well as courtesy vehicles and taxis. Our shared shuttles guide shows where the garage operators sit.

The walk is too far. For a free wheelchair from baggage claim or the garage, call Prospect Airport Services at (206) 246-1550 on arrival. Taxis have a mobility pickup on the baggage claim level, by Skybridge 2 near Door 10 or Skybridge 5 near Door 22.

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