In this series, I will talk about how to use Seattle as an alternate airport for those in the Vancouver area and Vancouver Island.
Related Posts
- Overview of Seattle Airport
- Examples of Savings over Vancouver / YVR
- Driving from the Vancouver Area
- Parking at SEA
- Other Ground Transportation
- Getting there from Victoria and Vancouver Island
In previous articles, we talked about using Seattle airport as an alternative to either Vancouver airport (YVR) or Victoria’s airport (YYJ). Since the main way that people get to Seattle is by car, we will talk about the best parking options at Seattle airport in this article.
The Skinny
There are a few different parking options at Seattle Airport.
| Daily Rates Range | $8-$35 |
| Weekly Rates Range | $63 – $250 |
| Park, Sleep, Fly (incl 1 hotel night) | $80 and up |
Masterpark is the best balance in terms of time and costs. Approximately $15 / day or $16 / day with valet. Booking your spot online at About Airport Parking may save you money.
Booking your Parking Spot
In my experience at airport parking lots (mainly in Buffalo), booking in advance is not really necessary as there is often space somewhere to park. Of late, though, I have noticed a difference in price, where more and more discounts are had by booking online. Personally, I like to check out About Airport Parking and Airport Parking Reservations in advance to see if the rates are lower than the quoted walk up rates. In my experience, you can sometimes save in the range of 30% off the regular rate.
Parking near the airport
There are many options for parking at Seattle airport. Seattle Travel’s website does a great job of covering the parking options at SEA included detailed reviews and maps of the lots.
The rates at Seattle can be competitive, but are likely cheaper than comparable parking locations at YVR.
View Seattle Airport Parking Map in a larger map
I classify the parking options into 3 different categories: airport parking lots, off airport parking lots, and “Park, Sleep, Fly” options which include a night in a hotel.
Here is a summary of the best parking options I have found as of this writing.
Off-Site Airport Parking
| Parking Option | Location | Distance to Terminal | Daily Rate | Weekly Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Park Garage | 18220 International Blvd + 3 other lots |
Very Regular Shuttle Service | $16.95 / day $14.95 / day* |
$85 / week* | *Coupon available for discounted parking 25 Alaska Airlines miles / day |
| Master Park Surface | 18220 International Blvd + 3 other lots |
Very Regular Shuttle Service | $14.95 / day $12.95 / day* |
$85 / week* | *Coupon available for discounted parking 25 Alaska Airlines miles / day |
| Ajax Airport Parking | 3211 S 154th Street | Regular Shuttle Service | $8.99 / day $8 / day** |
$63 / week** | **Coupon available for discounted parking |
On-Site Airport Parking
| Parking Option | Location | Distance to Terminal | Daily Rate | Weekly Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea-Tac Airport Parking Garage Floor 4 | Terminal Direct | Skybridge to Terminal | $4 / hour $35 / day |
$245 / week | Covered / Garage parking |
| Sea-Tac Airport Parking Garage Floor 3, 5-8 | Terminal Direct | Skybridge to Terminal | $3 / hour $28 / day |
$130 / week | Covered / Garage parking |
Hotel Options
| Parking Option | Location | Distance to Terminal | Daily Rate | Weekly Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarion Hotel | Terminal Direct | Shuttle Service | $7 / day | $150 / week including 1 night hotel stay | |
| Knights Inn | 14110 Tukwila Intl Blvd., Tukwila, WA 98168 US | Shuttle Service | $7 / day | $80 / week including 1 night hotel stay |
Rates found at parksleepfly.com.
Masterpark Option
Since Seattle Travel has done such a great job, I would tend to trust their analysis and go with MasterPark where possible. If I were flying early morning or coming in late at night and needed a night at a hotel, I would probably lean towards the Knights Inn, but definitely would want to look at parksleepfly.com. Depending on the hotel, you might be able to get the parking and the hotel night for the same price as just parking alone. One of the advantages of the ParkSleepFly option is that you can earn hotel loyalty points or frequent flyer miles for your stay, which always come in handy.
Recap
If you are going to be driving to Seattle Airport for a flight and are interested in parking there,
- rates range from $8-$35 / day or $65 – $250 / week
- Masterpark is the best balance in terms of time and costs. It costs approximately $15 / day or $16 / day with valet.
- Booking your spot online at About Airport Parking may save you money.
- Seattle Travel’s website can give you very detailed reviews of the parking lots at SEA
I’m surprised you have no comments on this. I’m planning my first trip through the Seattle airport from Vancouver and I’ve been nervous about where to park. I was leaning towards long term parking in the airport parking lot, but I might explore other options which might have better security. Do you know if I can pay for a week but take my car out early? I would assume so, just want to make sure.
I personally haven’t parked at Seattle as I only have done quick coach. I imagine if you call you can get a better answer.
Thanks.