Planning a trip to Seattle? You can travel by train on three Amtrak routes: Amtrak Cascades, Coast Starlight, and the Empire Builder. It’s an easy trip from cities in Washington State and Oregon, plus you can board Seattle-bound trains in California, Montana, the Midwest, and even Vancouver B.C.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of all your Amtrak options and things to know about the Amtrak station in Seattle.

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Seattle Amtrak Station Overview

When booking your train trip to Seattle on Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app, or by phone, choose the Seattle King Street Station as your destination. Amtrak will determine your route options based on the starting location you provide, which may include multiple train routes and Thruway service.

Area Information

King Street Station is located between Pioneer Square and Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (view map). The area is historic and busy during the day, with a variety of transportation options, restaurants, city attractions, and places to stay (Embassy Suites and Populus Seattle hotels are closest to the station).

You may encounter panhandlers and homeless people near the station if you’re on foot, which you can mostly avoid by getting a ride with Uber, Lyft or taxi.

If you’re up for walking (especially if your train arrives in daylight hours), in 15 minutes or less you can reach waterfront ferries, the Seattle Seahawks stadium, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and the popular Beneath the Streets Underground History Tour. There are also guided day tours to destinations including Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park from various departure points.

Transit Connections

Amtrak Cascades to Seattle

The Amtrak Cascades is a day-time only train with scenic water views. You can board trains between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver B.C. If you’re planning to cross the U.S.-Canada border, be sure to bring the required documentation with you (such as a passport).

Connecting train routes: VIA Rail in Canada provides train service to and from Vancouver B.C., there are also connections with the Empire Builder in Portland and Seattle.

Coast Starlight to Seattle

The Coast Starlight is a long-distance Amtrak route on the West Coast, with the option to book coach seats and private rooms. Running daily between Los Angeles and Seattle, you can board the train at many stops throughout California, Oregon, and Washington State.

Connecting train routes: Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle in Los Angeles and California Zephyr in Emeryville and Sacramento

Empire Builder to Seattle

The cross-country train to Seattle is the Empire Builder. Trains depart from Chicago and multiple cities in the Midwest, Great Plains, Montana, and Washington State, and travel through mountain ranges and the longest railroad tunnel in the U.S.

Connecting train routes: Many Amtrak routes travel to Chicago from the Midwest, East Coast and the South, with morning arrivals allowing for same-day transfers to the Empire Builder

More Information

Last updated December 2025