FREE Waterfront Shuttle (last day is October 1st)
In 2019, the FREE Waterfront Shuttle provided nearly 500,000 free rides to visitors and residents in order to make Seattle’s waterfront more accessible to them. The response from riders was overwhelming – they loved it! In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the shuttle was scuttled while we all came to grips with a global pandemic. The Seattle Historic Waterfront Association and its partners are thrilled to bring this service back to life in 2023. It is for YOU!
The FREE Waterfront Shuttle is Back!
Runs DAILY from July 17 to October 1, 2023.
Hours: 10 AM - 8 PM
Frequency
Every 25 Minutes*
The FREE Waterfront Shuttle is scheduled to pass by each of its stops every 25 minutes. On some days, this frequency may be more aspirational than practical. If Taylor Swift is in town and the Mariners are playing and APEC is meeting at the same time on a Friday evening, then don't blame the awesome shuttle drivers, please. Nobody on the streets will be moving people from the Space Needle to the ferry terminal in 25 minutes during those peak traffic hours.
*Give yourself enough time for delays and come prepared to walk. The young and brave may be able to rent a scooter.
Capacity
Shuttles 20+ Seats
The FREE Waterfront Shuttle can accommodate more than 20 people. It is ADA Accessible. Shuttle drivers are friendly and knowleable, but they are not magicians. They follow the rules, including those about maximum capacity. There may be times when the shuttle is full due to high demand.
Be prepared for delays and wear good walking shoes just in case. The nimble and courageous may be able to rent an electric bike.
Stops
Look for the signs
Every stop is marked with a prominent blue and orange sign indicating FREE Waterfront Shuttle. Each shuttle drives one of two designated loops. The routes and exact stop locations may change occasionally based on traffic, construction, and safety considerations. See map for places to hop on and off the shuttle.
The FREE Waterfront Shuttle is a Community Collaboration
Special Thanks to
King County
Friends of Waterfront Seattle
Alliance for Pioneer Square
Downtown Seattle Association
The Seattle Department of Transportation and Office of the Waterfront worked hard to make this happen this summer. Council Member Jeanne Kohl-Welles sponsored the funding package with King County.
Join the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Press Conference on July 17.
With tourism starting to reach pre-pandemic levels, everyone visiting Seattle will have a new transportation option to get across the city; the FREE waterfront shuttle. A press conference will be held to mark the first free shuttle run of the season. Details are below:
WHEN: Monday, July 17th at 1pm
WHERE: The Promenade at Pier 56, 1201 Alaskan Way
The shuttle will operate July 17th through September 24th, Sunday, October 1st, with more than 20 seats, ADA accessible, PAX busses. The two loops will connect the Waterfront to the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, King Street Station, the Chinatown International District, and more.
The shuttles will run 10am–8pm daily.
The free service is funded by a grant from King County, as well as support from the Alliance for Pioneer Square, the Downtown Seattle Association, the Seattle Historic Waterfront Association, and Friends of the Waterfront Seattle. The Seattle Dept of Transportation and Office of the Waterfront worked hard to make this happen this summer.
Council Member Jeanne Kohl-Welles sponsored the funding package with King County and will christen the first bus in front of Pier 56 on the Central Waterfront.
Shuttle Peak Hour Updates
Saturday, August 26, 2023. 1:30 PM. The shuttles will run today until 8PM. Ed Sheeran is playing at 8pm at Lumen Field. Congestion may slow down shuttle service.
As part of our commitment to reliable service, we monitor shuttle operations closely and adjust daily. One rider suggested a map to track the shuttles in real time. We welcome all feedback – your comments go straight to the top.
Please be aware that heavy traffic does impact shuttle travel times, resulting in slower journeys. We recommend planning your commute accordingly during peak traffic hours. If you see that the shuttle is late or full, please give priority to passengers with children, the elderly, and less mobile. Thank you for your team spirit!
Sunday, August 21, 2023. 1:30 PM. The shuttles will run today until 8PM.
Sunday, August 13, 2023. 9:30 AM. The shuttles will run today until 8PM. It’s going to be a bustling summer day in Seattle with the Mariners and the Storm playing this afternoon.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023. 2:45 PM. This is the third week of the 2023 FREE Waterfront Shuttle. Ridership is rising week over week. Please be aware that some riders have reported waiting more than 30 minutes for the shuttle. A couple of unfortunate people did not find one of the shuttle stop signs.
Saturday, August 5, 2023. 4:35 PM. Please be aware that one rider today reported waiting more than 30 minutes for the shuttle and another reported that a shuttle stop sign was missing. The route map below is updated daily, as needed.
Thursday, August 3, 2023. 7:10 PM. Construction has created a bottleneck in front of the Aquarium and impacted the shuttle stop. See the route map below for current stop locations.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023. 10:20 AM. We received one report yesterday of a passenger who had to wait more than 20 minutes for the shuttle. This feedback is very helpful and goes straight to the top. Remember that the Mariners play today at 1:10 PM, and construction has created a bottleneck in front of the Aquarium.
Tuesday, August 1, 2023. 11:10 AM. We received several reports of delays yesterday, with wait times up to 30 minutes for a family of riders who just missed the previous shuttle. With Elliott Way reduced to one lane in each direction, traffic was slower than usual. One person suggested an online map for tracking the shuttles. This feedback is very helpful and goes straight to the top. As part of our commitment to reliable service, we closely monitor shuttle operations and adjust daily. We also received reports that the location of certain stops were not clear, so a new interactive map was created below to help find the shuttle stops. Fleet Week starts today with a parade ships expected to begin at 1PM.
Monday, July 31, 2023. 10:05 AM. We received two reports of delays this past weekend, with wait times exceeding 20 minutes.
Saturday, July 29, 2023. 1:05 PM. We received one report of delays yesterday. This feedback is very helpful and goes straight to the top. This is the second weekend the shuttle has been operating. The first weekend was Taylor Swift and the Blue Jays. This weekend is the Seattle Art Festival and APEC. There are also three cruise ships in port today!
Thursday, July 27, 2023. 4:45 PM. We received reports of some delays yesterday. This feedback is very helpful and goes straight to the top. Today is Day 10 of the shuttle’s return since 2019 – we are learning.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023. 9:30 AM. Shuttles will begin running at 10 AM and continue until 8 PM today. We received no complaints or reports of full or late shuttles yesterday.
Monday, July 24, 2023. 7:40 PM. We received one passenger complaint today about waiting more than 20 minutes for one of the shuttles. Thank you for your feedback! It helps greatly.
Monday, July 24, 2023. 7:40 AM. The shuttles will run today from 10 AM to 8 PM. No significant peak-hour congestion or major events are expected to impact the shuttle schedule today.
Sunday, July 23, 2023. 1:10 PM. The shuttles are running until 8 PM today.
Currently, the Mariners are playing the Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park. The stadium will start emptying around 3:30, just as the doors prepare to open for Taylor Swift who will start at 6:30 PM at Lumen Field next door. Capitol Hill Block Party and Bite of Seattle are also happening all day.
Demand for the shuttle may exceed capacity at times today, especially during peak hours between 3PM and 7PM. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
Sunday, July 23, 2023. 7:15 AM. The shuttles will start running their routes today at 10 AM. Today, in Seattle, the Mariners play the Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park at 1:10 PM. Taylor Swift’s second of two concerts this weekend will start at 6:30 PM at Lumen Field. Capitol Hill Block Party and Bite of Seattle are also happening all day. In short, it’s lining up to be a beautiful and busy summer day in Seattle.
Saturday, July 22, 2023. 3:15PM. The shuttles are operating on their routes today. We have not yet received any complaints or reports of problems today. Please expect delays and full shuttles between now and 8PM when service will come to a close for the day. Shuttles will operate tomorrow again from 10AM to 8PM. Currently, in Seattle, the Mariners are playing the Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park. The Storm will play at 6PM at Seattle Center. Taylor Swift’s first of two concerts this weekend will start at 6:30PM at Lumen Field.
Saturday, July 22, 2023. 8:30AM. The shuttles are scheduled to begin their routes again this morning at 10AM. Taylor Swift and the Mariners are playing in town today. There are also several other major events. Traffic is expected to get tougher as the day progresses. Demand for the shuttles could exceed capacity during peak hours.
Friday, July 21, 2023. 7:00PM. The shuttles are backed up and full due to heavy traffic and high demand. The shuttles are operating. At this point, they are at the mercy of the traffic’s flow. Service stops at 8PM.
Tell us how your ride's going, right now!
Please use this space to file reports on your shuttle’s current location and status.
To report a late or full shuttle, click here.
2023 FREE Waterfront Shuttle: Interactive Route Map
Click on the glowing circles for details about each stop. Shuttle Lost & Found: Click here
List of Shuttle Route Stops and Locations
Stop A – Seattle Center / Space Needle: South side of John Street between Broad and 5th Ave in front of the KOMO Plaza Parking Garage entrance.
Stop B – Victoria Clipper / Sculpture Park / P66 Cruise Terminal: The shuttle heading south toward Pioneer Square stops on the west side of Alaskan Way between Vine St. and Clay St. The shuttle heading north toward Seattle Center stops across the street from Pier 69 (Port of Seattle and Clipper) on the east side of Alaskan Way.
Stop C – Pier 56 (51 Copperworks Distilling): East side of Alaskan Way in front of Copperworks for shuttle heading north toward Seattle Center. West side of Alaskan Way across from Copperworks for shuttle heading south toward Pioneer Square and King Street Station.
Stop D – Pioneer Square: South side of Yesler Way between Western Ave. and Post St.
Stop E – Stadiums / King Street Station: In front of Embassy Suites.
Stop F (NOT IN USE TODAY DUE TO CONSTRUCTION) – Pike Place Market / Seattle Aquarium: East side of Alaskan Way across from the Seattle Aquarium.
Clam Chowder on Alaskan Way
How do we love clam chowder? Let us count the ways. Seattle’s waterfront is your clam chowder crossing place. You can get it at Ivar’s (Pier 54), Anthony’s (Pier 66), Elliott’s Oyster House (pier 56), The Crab Pot (pier 57), Fisherman’s Bar & Restaurant (pier 57), World Trade Center Seattle Executive Dining Room (Port of Seattle), Hook & Plow (Marriott), Six Seven, PUB 70 (pier 70), and AQUA (pier 70).
Lunch on Alaskan Way
Ivar’s Fish Bar (Pier 54); Ivar’s Acres of Clams (Pier 54); Premier Meat Pies & Brews (Pier 54); Great State Burger (Pier 54); Skalka (Pier 54); Elliott’s Oyster House (Pier 56); The Wing Dome (Pier 56); The Crab Pot at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); Alaskan Sourdough Bakery at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); Anthony’s Fish Bar (Pier 66 – open seasonally); Anthony’s Bell Street Diner (Pier 66); Six Seven at the Edgewater (Pier 67); Pub 70 (Pier 70).
Indoor Dining on Alaskan Way
Ivar’s Acres of Clams (Pier 54); Premier Meat Pies & Brews (Pier 54); Great State Burger (Pier 54); Skalka across from (Pier 54); Elliott’s Oyster House (Pier 56); The Wing Dome (Pier 56); Alaskan Sourdough Bakery at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); The Crab Pot at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); Anthony’s Bell Street Diner (Pier 66); Anthony’s Pier 66 – upstairs dining room (Pier 66); Anthony’s Fish Bar on Pier 66 – open seasonally (Pier 66); Six Seven at the Edgewater (Pier 67); AQUA by El Gaucho (Pier 70); Pub 70 (Pier 70).
Outdoor Dining on Alaskan Way
Ivar’s Fish Bar on Pier 54 year-round (Pier 54); Ivar’s Acres of Clams (Pier 54); Premier Meat Pies & Brews (Pier 54); Great State Burger (Pier 54); Elliott’s Oyster House (Pier 56); The Wing Dome (Pier 56); The Crab Pot at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar at Miner’s Landing (Pier 57); Anthony’s Bell Street Diner (Pier 66); Anthony’s Fish Bar on Pier 66 – open seasonally (Pier 66); Anthony’s Pier 66 – upstairs dining room (Pier 66); Six Seven at the Edgewater (Pier 67); AQUA by El Gaucho (Pier 70); Pub 70 (Pier 70).
13 Comments
We really enjoyed having the option of the shuttle to get us around the sites of the city
. We were lucky to have one of the pickups in front of our hotel. We had a great driver she was very informative
This a great shuttle and its free. The drivers are all helpful and friendly.
Need a GPS tracker for the Waterfront Shuttle on this website or linked with Google Maps.
What a nice surprise to see this shuttle when walking from the Space Needle back to pier 54. Christine the driver was very informative about the city and also gave us several great suggestions for our two days in town. Staffer Kegan was at the stop when we got off and took the time to walk us to Ivar’s restaurant, provide us with a shuttle map and tour map and give us many very helpful ideas and suggestions. What an exceptional team and excellent service. Thank you!
Is it possible to add real-time info for the shuttle to One Bus Away?
I just had my first ride from Pier69 all the way to King Street station. Very thankful for the service and really appreciate everyone who has taken a part in making this happen. The driver was super nice, I didn’t get her name but the route ended at 3:30 at King station so, you guys might know her name. Please pass my huge complements to the driver. Thanks
What a wonderful service! The shuttle had a stop right in front of our hotel. We had two different drivers, and both were very helpful and informative. Both drivers were very enthusiastic and seemed to really enjoy their job. They both said how Seattle is working to put more shuttles in operation since the pandemic. We appreciate the shuttle service, and look forward to returning to Seattle.
Shuttle just picked us up at the stop near the space needle. Bus driver is super friendly.
It would be so helpful to have live shuttle tracking! It’s very frustrating to wait at a stop for 15 minutes and have no idea if the shuttle is right around the corner, or another 20 minutes away.
If not GPS tracking, is there an approximate schedule? 25 minutes is quite a wait if you just missed one.
I loved the hospitality of the bus driver(Christine). She was grand. 10/10. She was passionate and very kind and invested in her job.
This is a fantastic idea!!! We enjoyed the experience of seeing sites and getting around the waterfront area. This is our first visit to the area. What a wonderful experience riding this shuttle free and getting to and from major tourist attractions. The drivers were very informative and friendly. The wait times could be better but just having 2 shuttle buses running this route it’s difficult for the drivers to make good time with obstacles and traffic. Overall this is a brilliant way to get around the area!!
We love this shuttle and are so happy that it is back! The ride was clean and comfortable, and the drivers are as friendly as ever. This is much needed for connecting the Waterfront to the rest of downtown Seattle. We did notice that on cruise days there are extra delays coming down on Wall Street in the mornings around 10-12 since many vehicles share this route to get to the cruise terminal at Pier 66. Maybe the shuttle can explore an alternative route to avoid coming down Wall St? Perhaps coming down Clay Street and moving the shuttle stop B across from the Victoria Clipper up a block north to avoid that traffic. We were waiting for over 45 minutes to take the shuttle.