Seattle Airport to Olympia: Bus, Shuttle, Uber and Rental Compared

Greyhound runs a direct SEA-to-Olympia bus from $15.48, with listed departures at 3:00 and 4:50 p.m. A private car starts at $150 one way, and Uber averages $154 for the 50 miles.

Every way to Olympia side by side

The bus from Door 2

Two companies sell this route, FlixBus and Greyhound. Greyhound’s page lists the SeaTac stop at Door 2 of the Main Terminal, at the south end of the baggage claim level. The Port of Seattle’s directory lists FlixBus at the Airporters curb on the Arrivals Drive, outside Doors 00 and 02 past Carousel 1, which is the same south end of the level. You’ll find the airporter check-in counter inside near Door 00 in the Gina Marie Lindsey Arrivals Hall.

The bus ends at the Olympia Transit Center, 205 Franklin Street NE, at the southwest corner of Olympia Avenue NE and Franklin Street NE. FlixBus’s Seattle to Olympia page lists no airport stop. Its 1 hr 45 min fastest trip and its 2:25 p.m. first departure belong to its other Seattle stops. Search for SeaTac when you book.

• Tickets live on your phone. Greyhound says to show the QR code from your confirmation email or the app.
• Greyhound allows one carry-on (16 by 12 by 7 inches, up to 25 pounds) and one checked bag at no extra cost.
• Both say the buses are wheelchair accessible, and Greyhound recommends booking early if you need the lift.

Shuttle vans and private cars

Premier Airport Shuttle is the door-to-door van the Port of Seattle lists for Olympia, along with Tacoma, Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It runs shared and private vans. The Port of Seattle says fares vary with distance, number of passengers and service, so there is no flat Olympia price to quote. Book at premierairportshuttle.com/seatac/ or by phone. Premier’s reservations line is 800-962-3579, and the Port of Seattle lists (206) 244-0011 for the service.

Premier boards on garage Level 3. Cross Skybridge 4 to the Ground Transportation Plaza and find the kiosk. Premier’s own page says shared arrival trips may drop other passengers before or after your address. A private van doesn’t make those stops.

Most Premier fares exclude gratuity. The Port of Seattle says customers usually tip 10% to 20% of the total fare, so allow for that when comparing quotes.

Olympia Airport Shuttle & Transportation also offers a private car. It says it runs around the clock. Its SUV is $250 one way and its Sprinter van $350. It says it tracks your flight and gives 45 minutes of free waiting after landing. Its page describes both a meet-and-greet at baggage claim and a curbside pickup once you phone with your door number. Its number is 360-944-0606.

The Port of Seattle lets pre-arranged cars pick up on the lower Arrival Drive, and meet-and-greet drivers wait in the limo stalls on garage Level 3.

Uber, Lyft or a taxi

Rideshare pickup is at stalls 1 to 34. Cross a skybridge one level below ticketing, then go down one level. Uber Black and other premium rides meet you at the baggage claim door you choose. For wheelchair-accessible taxi pickup, use the baggage claim level near Door 10 or Door 22.

Uber’s route page says its figures are historical and that prices vary with time of day and demand. Uber Reserve lets you book from 2 hours to 90 days ahead, where it’s offered. Taxis and app rides both run 24 hours, so they work after the last bus. A taxi is metered at SEA, with a $20 minimum fare from the airport. The Port permits a $1 on-demand surcharge.

Public buses: check the Olympia connection

Link light rail reaches Federal Way. Route 560 boards on the lower drive near Door 00 at the south end of the terminal. Rome2Rio’s planner instead sends you by Link to Federal Way, route 574 to the SR 512 Park & Ride, then route 600 to Capitol Way at 11th Ave, and estimates $10 to $14 and 1 hr 57 min for the full trip. Don’t rely on that connection until Intercity Transit confirms it.

The walk to the Link station crosses the garage. If you need a ride across, take the free Train-to-Plane cart from garage Level 4 near Skybridges 5 and 6. It runs between the terminal and station daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Overnight, Sound Transit’s route 597 Night Bus stops near the Link station on International Boulevard and runs toward Lakewood. SeaTac Station departures toward Lakewood run from 1:23 to 5:23 a.m., about every 30 minutes.

Renting a car

Every SEA rental company is off-site. Board the free, 24-hour shuttle on the baggage claim level outside Door 24 at the north end or Door 2 at the south end. The facility is at 3150 S. 160th St., about five minutes away. Rent-A-Wreck customers change to its company shuttle.

Getting picked up by someone from Olympia

A friend driving up can wait at the free cell phone lot, 2623 S. 170th Street. It holds 200 vehicles and has free Wi-Fi. You get 20 minutes at a time and drivers stay with the vehicle.

Going back from Olympia to SEA

Uber’s Olympia to SeaTac page lists $158 and 57 minutes for a rideshare. It also lists a private bus at an average $17 and about 1 hr 30 min.

Olympia Airport Shuttle & Transportation recommends pickup 3.5 hours before a domestic departure.

Sources

• Scheduled airporters, door-to-door shuttle, shared shuttles, Main Terminal
• App-based rideshare, taxis, pre-arranged limousines, baggage claim
• Sound Transit Express buses, Link light rail, Train-to-Plane cart, rental cars, cell phone lot, private vehicle pickup
• Our hotel and off-site courtesy shuttles page
• Greyhound’s SeaTac to Olympia page
• FlixBus’s Seattle to Olympia page, Uber’s SEA to Olympia page, Uber’s Olympia to SeaTac page
• Rome2Rio’s SeaTac to Olympia page, Premier Airport Shuttle’s Olympia page, Olympia Airport Shuttle & Transportation’s SeaTac page