Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Seattle
Seattle’s heavy traffic and lack of parking can be solved if you follow these driving tips in the 22nd-most congested city in the U.S.
Written by Jasmine Kanter
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- What is driving in Seattle like?
- Traffic and transportation options in Seattle
- Local driving laws in Seattle
- Crime rate in Seattle
- How to find car insurance in Seattle
Load full table of contents
Seattle, Washington is the 22nd-most congested city in the United States. Expect bumper-to-bumper traffic on its downtown streets during rush hour.
As in most big cities, drivers in Seattle struggle to navigate heavy traffic and find available parking in popular areas. More specifically, it’s the city’s layout, massive hills, and parking laws that pose a challenge.
In this guide, we'll dive into the unique features of Seattle—like its weather, crime rate, and parking laws—to answer the question of why driving in Seattle can be so frustrating.
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What is driving in Seattle like?
Broadly, Seattle shares many of the problems that make other big cities such a pain when it comes to driving: a large population and a limited amount of road space equals lots of congestion. More than that, you can blame Seattle’s particular frustrations on its somewhat peculiar landscape.
Roads
The problem begins at the center of the city, where many unevenly-shaped land claims were patched together in the 19th century. Later annexations by the city, such as Ballard and Georgetown, only contributed to the confusion.
Today, Seattle is a mishmash of disjoined rectangular street grids. Most (but not all) are oriented to true North, but a few don’t even follow the grid layout. As you can imagine, a city with a complicated layout also has inefficient traffic flow patterns.
Parking
From Monday to Saturday,
the parking you’ll find across the city
is available in 2-hour, 4-hour, and 10-hour increments. On Sundays and holidays, time limits and fees don’t generally apply, but you should always check the closest pay station
and street parking signs for hours and regulations.Aside from street parking, there are garages, meters, and private parking lots across the city. So why do Seattle residents spend 40 hours more per year than the national average looking for parking?
Well, it comes down to demand and local parking laws. Vacant spaces are snapped up quickly in popular areas like the Waterfront, Pike Place Market, and Pioneer Square, even though parking time is limited. The street parking for permanent residents is constantly in flux since Seattle’s 72-hour parking rule prohibits parking in the same spot for more than three days at a time.
If you have to head somewhere busy, booking a space in a parking garage ahead of time is worth your while.
MORE: How to find a parking spot in a city
Weather
Seattle’s climate falls in the Mediterranean zone, enjoying mild summers and winters. Here’s what to expect at both ends of the temperature spectrum:
- Summer: Enjoy the warm, dry weather, because it won’t last! Typically rising to 79°F, summer days are usually mild and partly cloudy thanks to the tempering effects of living near water.
- Winter: Hitting lows of 28°F (albeit rarely), winters in Seattle can be cold, wet, and cloudy. From November 1st to March 31st, motorists are allowed to install studded tires to deal with the high winds, ice, and snow. Otherwise, look for regular traction tires (marked by an M&S, all-season, or mountain/snowflake label) to comply withWashington state road requirementson high-elevation roads. Alternatively, you can equip your summer tires with tire chains.
Traffic and transportation options in Seattle
As a major metropolis, Seattle has plenty of options when it comes to transportation. Check the local
KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
to get updated traffic conditions so you can decide which method makes the most sense for you.The
King County Metro bus
operates throughout the city. You’ll be asked to board with either $2.75 in exact change or a reloadable ORCA card. The Seattle Streetcar, meanwhile, follows only two routes: the South Lake Union streetcar and the First Hill streetcar, although services are expected to grow in the coming years. A one-way ride costs $1.50 for children and $2.25 for adults, while day passes are $3 and $4.50, respectively.
Finally, the
Sound Transit
Light Rail (formerly the Link, or Line 1) connects the airport to the University of Washington, with several stops along the way. It operates from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM Monday to Saturday, with Sunday and holiday hours shortened to 6:00 AM to midnight. You can expect to pay about $2.25 to $3.25 per trip, depending on the distance traveled.Should I rent a car in Seattle?
If you want to explore the mountains, lakes, and towns surrounding Seattle, a rental car is a must. If you stay within the city limits, considering the heavy rush hour traffic and downtown parking prices—overnight parking rates can climb to as high as $50—you might want to opt for taxis or rideshares like Lyft and Uber.
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
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Local driving laws in Seattle
The other great advantage to car services is that local drivers know the rules of the road here. If you decide to drive yourself, note these
local laws and regulations
:- Every intersection is a legal crossing. Unless a sign says otherwise, look out for pedestrians at each intersection and put on the brakes if anybody is looking to cross.
- Yield to bicyclists. Seattle’s cyclists should be given as much of the lane as they need for safety. Before making a turn, check your surroundings (and especially your blind spot) for anyone who might have ridden up beside your car.
- Distracted drivingis a crime. While hands-free devices are permitted, you should limit interruptions to your trip by setting your phone out of reach and on mute.
- Open containers of alcohol are prohibited. An open container is any unsealed vessel containing a full or partial amount of an alcoholic beverage. Not only should drivers keep drinks out of reach, but passengers also should not have drinks in hand (unless they’re paying customers in a taxi, limousine, or rideshare vehicle) according toopen container laws in Washington.
Crime rate in Seattle
When parking, whether you’ve rented a car or are driving your own, you may be concerned about safety. While Seattle has a lower violent crime rate than average, property crime is higher than usual, with a U.S. News crime index of 6.7/10.
In 2020, per 100,000 people, there was an average of 2,861.7 property crimes, putting your chances of experiencing either a violent or property crime in Seattle at 1 in 17. Besides opting for great
car insurance
, you should keep safe parking practices in mind to avoid falling victim to the high rate of vehicle theft.- Park in a secured or brightly lit and busy area
- Lock your vehicle before leaving
- Do not leave valuables in your car
- Engage the parking brake so your vehicle is more difficult to tow away
How to find car insurance in Seattle
Parking in Seattle might be complicated, but car insurance doesn’t have to be. It’s this simple: download the
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