SEATTLE TRAFFIC SHORTCUTS



DOWNTOWN SEATTLE to SOUTH END (Seatac, Federal Way, Tacoma)

AVOID I-5 Southbound

TAKE WA-99 / Alaskan Way Southbound from ramp near 1st Ave and Columbia St.

CONTINUE for about 4 miles as WA-99 South becomes East Marginal Way

STAY in the middle lanes and bear righ to cross the 1st Ave Bridge onto WA-509 S.

CONTINUE on WA-509 S. for about 2 miles to the Des Moines, South 188th Street Exit

FOLLOW exit signs to get on South 188th Street

At this point, you are at the South End of the Seatac Airport

FOLLOW South 188th Street East for one mile until WA-99 S. / Intl. Blvd

FOLLOW WA-9 South for 2.5 miles until you reach Kent Des Moines Rd.

From here you can take I-5 South to Tacoma or continue on WA-99 South to Federal Way



BEST ROUTE THROUGH DOWNTOWN SEATTLE NORTH to SOUTH
TAKE Western or Elliot Ave. by the water


BEST ROUTE THROUGH DOWNTOWN SEATTLE SOUTH to NORTH
TAKE 4th Avenue – stay in the center lane.


BEST DETOUR OF THE “MERCER MESS”
TAKE Queen Anne Avenue to Western or Denny

Or

FOLLOW 5th Avenue Southbound under the monorail to either Denny or Olive.

Or

TAKE Republican (the street South of Mercer, which you can only access when you’re east of Aurora.

After going east of Aurora, turn RIGHT

Go SOUTH one block and turn

LEFT on Republican

FOLLOW Republican for a few blocks and then

LEFT on Fairview

RIGHT on Mercer and get on I-5 either direction.

If you can use Aurora, take a left at any street on Mercer before going under Aurora.

GO North a few blocks to get out of traffic and head EAST to Aurora.

You’ll be forced to go SOUTH on Aurora, but you can make a u-turn at the Denny Street exit to head back North.


BEST ROUTE from DOWNTOWN to CAPITOL HILL
TAKE Pike Street


BEST ROUTE from NORTH end to DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
TAKE Aurora


BEST ROUTE to SEAHAWK STADIUM and SAFECO FIELD
From downtown – TAKE 2nd Ave headed SOUTH

FOLLOW 2nd as it veers RIGHT after Yesler

RIGHT at the “T” onto S. King St.

LEFT on “1st” and find parking


BEST ROUTE from CAPITOL HILL to SEATTLE DOWNTOWN

WEST on Pike until you are forced to turn LEFT under the Convention Center

You’ll come out headed WEST on Union


BEST ROUTE from SEATTLE DOWNTOWN to UW

GO NORTH on 6th

BEND RIGHT on Westlake

RIGHT (east) on Mercer

STAY in the far RIGHT LANE

BYPASS the I-5 entrance

GO to T-intersection with Eastlake

LEFT (north) on Eastlake

CONTINUE NORTH for several miles

CROSS the bridge

RIGHT (east) on NE Campus Parkway right after the bridge

GO straight – you’re at the campus

FOR SOUTH CAMPUS: take a right on 15th and the next left to enter campus

FOR NORTH CAMPUS: turn left (north) on 15th and then right (east) on 45th.
The north campus entrance will be on your right.


SEATTLE
CONVENTION CENTER to WATERFRONT
GO West on Union

If you are headed West on Pike, you’ll be forced to go under the Convention Center, which will put you on Union.

LEFT (south) on 5th.

RIGHT (west) on Madison.

Head straight down to Alaskan Way