Skip the traffic. Transit options for Seahawks fans to NFC Championship
Ever spent your Sunday morning circling SoDo in search of the parking spot that never was? Have you battled gridlocked Seahawks traffic only to realize the nearby buses and trains would’ve had you halfway home before you reached Interstate 5?
Maybe — hopefully not — you’ve spent a small fortune on parking, only to walk several blocks to Lumen Field anyway?
If you’re attending Sunday’s NFC Championship at 3:30 p.m. in Seattle, now might be the perfect time to leave those car keys behind.
Here’s a rundown of the South Sound’s best transit options for Seahawks vs. Rams that could save time, money and frustration on game day:
SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL — 1 LINE
ONE-WAY FARE: $3.
WHEN: Trains run every 10 minutes until midnight.
ORIGIN: Federal Way Station, with additional stops at Angle Lake Station, Sea-Tac Airport and more.
PARKING GARAGES: Federal Way Station, Star Lake Station, Angle Lake Station, Tukwila International Boulevard Station.
Perhaps the most-popular and convenient among the area’s transit options, the Light Rail opened service as far south as Federal Way last month — perfect timing for Seahawks fans in the South Sound. It’s a 50-minute ride from Federal Way Station to the game with free, 24-hour customer parking at Sound Transit garages. No more leaving the game in the fourth quarter to beat the rush. No more bumper-to-bumper mayhem on the way home, either.
Both Stadium Station and International District/Chinatown Station service riders bound for Lumen Field. Tickets are available with an ORCA Card, the Transit Go mobile app or on site at station kiosks. People 18 or under ride free.
Parking at Sound Transit garages/lots, including those at Federal Way, Star Lake, Angle Lake and Tukwila International Boulevard, will fill early. Plan ahead or use a ride-sharing service to arrive at your station of choice for a smoother Sunday.
Here’s a detailed schedule of Sunday’s 1 Line service. The Light Rail also offers service from Lynnwood Station for those north of Lumen Field.
POSTGAME TIP: Traveling south after the game? Head to International District/Chinatown Station just north of Lumen Field, where approaching trains aren’t already brimming with Seahawks fans. Northbound travelers should board at Stadium Station for the same reason.
SOUNDER TRAIN — S LINE
ONE-WAY FARE: Between $3.25 and $5.75, depending on origin.
WHEN/ORIGIN: 11:51 a.m. and 12:11 p.m. Sunday at Lakewood Station.
PARKING GARAGES: Lakewood Station, Tacoma Dome Station, Puyallup Station, Sumner Station, Auburn Station, Kent Station.
Sounder Trains don’t typically operate on weekends, used primarily for weekday commuters in and out of Seattle, but Sound Transit makes exceptions — running one or two trains on select Sundays for Mariners and Seahawks games.
Of course, that’s the case again this Sunday, The News Tribune confirmed. Quieter than ST Express buses and more comfortable than a jam-packed Light Rail, the Sounder and its double-decker train cars offer a 76-minute ride from start (Lakewood Station) to finish (King Street Station).
Sound Transit will operate three trains Sunday, in total: Two departing from Lakewood Station (S Line) and one from Everett Station (N Line).
The S Line includes stops at the following stations:
- Lakewood (origin)
- South Tacoma
- Tacoma Dome
- Puyallup
- Sumner
- Auburn
- Kent
- Tukwila
- King Street (destination)
Expect both S Line trains to fill quickly; those boarding at Lakewood Station will have their choice of seat.
The S Line departs King Street Station 10 minutes (or when full) and 45 minutes after the game, Sound Transit said. The lone N Line train departs King Street Station 45 minutes postgame.
Tickets are available with an ORCA Card, the Transit Go mobile app or on site at station kiosks. People 18 or under ride free.
Here’s a stop-by-stop schedule for Sound Transit’s two S Line trains Sunday.
SOUND TRANSIT EXPRESS BUS — 594
ONE-WAY FARE: $3.
WHEN: Every 30 minutes until 11:45 p.m.
ORIGIN: Lakewood Station, Bay 3.
PARKING GARAGES/LOTS: Lakewood Station, 512 Park and Ride, Tacoma Dome Station.
For the 12’s south of Tacoma’s city limits, the ST Express takes you from Lakewood to Lumen Field for the same price as a Light Rail ticket. Sound Transit’s 594 Route is the best bet, which departs from Lakewood Station every 30 minutes and makes stops in Downtown Tacoma (including the Commerce Street and Tacoma Dome Stations) before a straight shot to SoDo. In total, it’s a 74-minute ride from Lakewood to Seattle, though traffic could inflate that estimate.
Request a stop at SODO Busway and South Royal Brougham Way, directly next to the Light Rail’s Stadium Station. Tickets are available with an ORCA Card, the Transit Go mobile app or on site at station kiosks. People 18 or under ride free.
Here’s a detailed schedule for ST Express 594’s service this Sunday.
PREGAME TIP: If Lakewood Station’s garage is full upon arrival, drive to the next scheduled stop at the 512 Park and Ride, just one mile north along Pacific Highway. The sprawling surface lot isn’t covered but offers plenty of overflow parking without trekking to Tacoma or King County.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Skip the traffic. Transit options for Seahawks fans to NFC Championship."
