Stuck overnight at Seattle airport unexpectedly
Stuck at SEA overnight? Checkpoint 4 is the only checkpoint open after midnight, the last Link train is 12:05 a.m., and hotel shuttles run all night.
Plan on a gate seat after security if you stay inside tonight, because SEA has no sleep pods or day rooms. A bed means a hotel shuttle. The Starbucks in the Central Terminal never closes, and Checkpoint 4 is the only checkpoint open after midnight.
Should you stay airside or leave?
| Choice | Cost | Works when | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay airside | $0 | A short night | Gate seating and no bed |
| Hotel with a free shuttle | Shuttle free, room rate set by the hotel | A long gap you’d sleep through | Second screening, and a missed shuttle costs another wait |
| Downtown by Link | $3 one way, 39 minutes to Westlake | Before the last train | Bag storage closes at 10 p.m., so bags ride with you |
| Downtown by taxi | $20 minimum fare from SEA | Any hour | Metered above the minimum. Uber and Lyft also run 24 hours |
The Port advises being at security two hours before a domestic flight and three before an international one.
What’s open at each hour of the night
Times below are weekday nights unless noted.
| Hour | Airside | Ways out |
|---|---|---|
| Until midnight | Checkpoint 3 closes at 11:30 p.m. Sensory rooms close at 12 a.m. | Link runs every 16 minutes from 9:05 p.m., with the last train at 12:05 a.m. The Train-to-Plane cart stops at midnight |
| Midnight to 3 a.m. | Five places stay open 24 hours after security, and one before it (listed under the table) | Night Bus route 597 leaves toward downtown every 30 minutes from 12:26 a.m. to 4:26 a.m. Metro route 124 leaves toward downtown at 1:22 and 2:35 a.m. Taxis and rideshare run 24 hours |
| 3 to 4 a.m. | The Starbucks on the A Concourse and the C Concourse open at 3 a.m. | Night Bus until 4:26 a.m. |
| 4 a.m. | Checkpoints 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 open. Sensory rooms reopen | First Link train at 4:51 a.m. |
| 4:15 a.m. | The United Club and Delta Sky Club at A1 open | |
| 5 a.m. | The Centurion Lounge, the three Alaska Lounges and The Club at SEA on the A Concourse open. The Club sells a day pass at $50 | The Train-to-Plane cart resumes |
The Club at SEA on the S Concourse opens at 6 a.m. and costs $60.
Open 24 hours:
| Place | Side of security |
|---|---|
| Starbucks, Central Terminal | After |
| Hudson, Central Terminal | After |
| Dilettante Chocolates & Mocha Cafe, Central Terminal | After |
| Qdoba at Gate B1 | After |
| Dufry Duty Free at Gate S10 | After |
| 7-Eleven at Baggage Claim 15 | Before |
The walkway from the garage to the Link station is open 24 hours. The Night Bus stops near the station on International Boulevard, and the elevator and stairs on the west side of the station reach street level on International Boulevard. Route 124 stops on the airport access road where it meets International Boulevard, south of the terminal. The Port says departure times are on signs at the stop.
| Night | Last Link train | First Link train next morning | Night Bus first departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 12:06 a.m. | 5:58 a.m. | Not given separately, buses run an hour later |
| Sunday | 11:18 p.m. | 4:51 a.m. | 11:26 p.m. |
Where can you lie down?
| Place | Hours | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Gate seating | After security | Free, and no bed |
| USO Center bunk room, before security | Mezzanine above Checkpoint 4. Hours vary by day, listed below the table. The bunk room’s own hours aren’t listed. Phone (206) 246-1908 | Traveling military members and their families only |
| Sensory rooms, in the A Station hallway and above Gate C3 | 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. | Space is limited, and the door is locked. Call (206) 787-5229 and press 1 for the key code. The rooms have a bench area, dimmable lighting and shoe and luggage storage, and children must stay with an adult |
| Jabbrrbox booths at Gates A5 and A8 | Hours not listed | One-person booths, booked on the unit in 15-minute blocks up to two hours |
| Prayer and meditation rooms | Hours vary by day | Resting and sleeping aren’t allowed |
USO Center hours:
| Day | Open |
|---|---|
| Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. the next morning |
| Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 8 a.m. to midnight |
| Sunday | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
If you leave, you come back through a checkpoint. Our security wait guide shows when the lines build, so aim to be back through before the morning rush.
Which hotels send a shuttle all night?
Hotel shuttles board on garage Level 3, on the courtesy island lane at Islands 1A to 1D, 2A and 3A to 3C. These hotels list a shuttle that runs around the clock.
| Hotel | Distance from the terminal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Days Inn by Wyndham SeaTac Airport | 0.9 miles | 206-244-3600 |
| Coast Gateway Hotel | 1 mile | 206-248-8200 |
| Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites | 1 mile | 206-592-8760, or call from a courtesy phone on the garage’s third floor |
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites | 1 mile | 206-870-2576. Boards at Island 1 or 3 |
| Hampton Inn & Suites, 28th Ave | 1 mile | 206-244-5044 |
| Country Inn & Suites by Radisson | 1.1 miles, about 3 minutes | 206-433-8188 |
| Hampton Inn Seattle-Airport | 1.2 miles, about 4 minutes | 206-878-1700 |
| Four Points by Sheraton Seattle Airport South | 2.8 miles | 253-642-0100. Also serves the Link light rail |
The three hotels closest to the terminal list a shuttle but no overnight hours, so call before you count on a ride after midnight.
| Hotel | Distance from the terminal | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| DoubleTree by Hilton | 0.25 miles | 206-246-8600 |
| Hilton Garden Inn | 0.48 miles | 206-734-4500 |
| Seattle Airport Marriott | 0.5 miles | 206-241-2000 |
Three more hotels have their own catches:
| Hotel | What to know | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center | About a five-minute walk from the terminals, beside the SeaTac/Airport Link station, with a complimentary shuttle too | 206-244-4800 |
| Red Roof Inn | Its shuttle stops at midnight | 206-248-0901 |
| Embassy Suites | 4.3 miles away. Runs all night but charges per party | 425-227-8844 |
If you feel unsafe, call or text 9-1-1, or call (206) 787-5401 for a non-emergency. SEA Customer Care answers daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific, so overnight your airline is the number to try.
If your flight was cancelled rather than delayed, our cancelled flight guide covers rebooking and the all-night hotels.
Our Link guide has the walk from baggage claim to the station.
Sources
This site’s pages:
- Sleeping and resting
- Sensory rooms and Prayer and meditation rooms
- Security checkpoints
- Lounges and USO Center
- Hotels and Hotel and off-site courtesy shuttles
- Link light rail, King County Metro buses and Sound Transit Express buses
- Taxis and App-based rideshare
- Luggage storage
Official pages:
- Our home page
- Sound Transit, 1 Line schedule and timetable
- Sound Transit, route 597 (Night Bus)