Day 1: Sea-Tac WA to Seattle WA
Postcard from Seattle, Washington.
Sea-Tac Airport to Seattle is not exactly a road-trip. More a 17 miles easy morning commute but it was the first 17 miles I drove since last year trip to Key West, hence I count it in.
The inclement weather seems a familiar constant in the first couple of days of these US road-trips. A tornado in 2021. Thunderstorms in 2022. Light rain today. Progress, I say.
Seattle: pine trees, lushly vegetation, majestic clouds, oysters for lunch, a dinner with one of my favorite out of state Chicagoan, the discovery of Fremont, one (two) for the road in an incredible dive bar, lots of coffee to keep me functioning after today’s brutally early morning flight. The reassuring, unmistakable shape of the Space Needle.
And, while sipping (yet another) coffee at KEXP, I keep asking myself how in the early 90s a relatively small city situated in the northwesternmost corner of this country, happened to be the undisputed birthplace of that incredible music scene I grew up with. Go figure.
Note to self: never book a flight departing before 8am. Ever fucking again.
Driving from SeaTac to Fremont, Seattle Cheat Sheet
Accommodation in Fremont, Seattle:
- Marco Polo Motel, 4114 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 Clean, safe and walking distance from the nicest part of Fremont where you can find plenty of bars, restaurants and one of my favorite thing in Seattle: the Fremont Troll
Where to eat and what to see in Fremont, Seattle
- Fremont Troll, North 36th Street, Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 One of my favorite street art attraction ever. The Fremont Troll is so big and weird you wanna give him a hug.
- RockCreek Seafood & Spirits, 4300 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 Great seafood and delicious oysters.
- Bar House, 503 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103, Very little, welcoming bar with a psychedelic back room and some decent PNW beers on tap
- Revel, 401 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103 A modern take on Korean restaurant. I’ve been twice, in two different trips to Seattle and it never disappoints.
*I’ve been to Seattle lots of times, mostly for work. One day I’ll write a separate post
Driving from SeaTac to Fremont, Seattle FAQ
From Seattle-Tacoma Airport to Fremont, Seattle there are 17 miles.
It takes about 30 miles to drive from Seattle-Tacoma Airport to Fremont, Seattle, without traffic.
A midsize probably is the best choice. The weather in Seattle can change pretty rapidly and unexpectedly and it rains pretty often.
Rental car companies at SEA Airport operate at a separate rental car facility about 2 miles or an approximate 10 minute bus ride from the main terminal. At time of writing there are free shuttle buses operating 24/7. The pick-up areas are located outside the baggage claim area at the south and north ends of the main terminal.
Seattle pictures: other photos taken in Seattle
My itinerary on a West Coast road trip
- Seattle to San Diego road trip – main article
- Day 1: Sea-Tac to Seattle
- Day 2: Seattle to Port Angeles
- Day 3: Port Angeles to Astoria
- Day 4: Astoria to Florence
- Day 5: Florence to Crescent City
- Day 6: Crescent City to Fortuna
- Day 7, 8 and 9: Fortuna to Napa
- Day 10 and 11: Napa to San Francisco
- Day 12: San Francisco to Monterey
- Day 13: Monterey to King City
- Day 14: King City to San Luis Obispo
- Day 15: San Luis Obispo to Carpinteria
- Day 16-17-18: Carpinteria to Los Angeles
- Day 19-20: Los Angeles to San Diego
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