Rideshare & Ground Transport
Uber & Lyft Pickup at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
Rideshare pickup at SEA is not always at the arrivals curb — most airports now route Uber and Lyft to a dedicated lot or garage. Here is exactly where to go, how to get there, and how to keep the fare reasonable.
Where to get picked up at SEA
UUber Pickup Zone
Parking Garage Level 3 — orange and purple section, stalls 1–34
LLyft Pickup Zone
Parking Garage Level 3 — same orange/purple stall zone, stalls 1–34
In the app
Select 'SEA' in the app and follow in-app directions to Parking Garage Level 3, stalls 1–34
How to find the rideshare zone
From baggage claim, take the sky-bridge (one level below ticketing, one level above baggage claim) then descend one level to Parking Garage Level 3; follow 'TNC/Rideshare' signs to stalls 1–34.
Cell Phone Lot
The Cell Phone Lot is off Airport Expressway South (follow 'Cell Phone Lot' signs from the airport loop road) — 3–5 min to the garage pickup zone. Cell phone lot details →
Avoiding surge pricing at SEA
When surge peaks: Surge peaks Sunday evenings 4–8pm, Friday afternoons 3–7pm, and during Seahawks/Mariners/Sounders game days; rain delays year-round also spike demand.
Wait tip
Arrivals lanes are heavily congested 8pm–midnight and morning departures 6am–8am; wait in the garage stall zone before requesting your ride to avoid driver timeout.
Compare your options
Rideshare is usually the fastest door-to-door option, but it is not always the cheapest — especially during surge.
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rideshare Uber / Lyft | Door-to-door convenience, groups with bags, no cash needed | Surge pricing on busy evenings & events; long walk to pickup lot |
| Taxi Metered cab | Predictable metered fare during surge, no app required | Often more expensive off-peak; cash sometimes required |
| Transit Train / bus | Lowest cost option, immune to surge pricing and traffic | Not available at every airport; less practical with luggage |
For full ground-transport options at SEA including rental cars and public transit, see the SEA Getting Around guide.
Know exactly when to leave for SEA
Add your rideshare pickup time to the Leave-By calculator — it factors in current TSA wait times, so you hit the zone with time to spare.
Calculate leave-by time →