Sea-Tac Airport continues to roll out new upgrades to its space. | Photo via the Port of Seattle
If you’re flying out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport now through Sunday, July 6, say hello to the other 5.84 million travelers who had the same idea.
It’ll be a packed weekend at the airports — set yourself up for success with our guide to Sea-Tac Airport.
What to know
TSA | Security line wait times can vary each day, but Sea-Tac recommends getting to the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. SEA Spot Saver app can help reserve your place in the security line. Pro tip: Since 80% of Seattle departures are scheduled in the morning, lines tend to lighten up after 11 a.m. — so book a midday flight, if you can.
The “Chalchiuhtlicue” sculptures in the baggage area are by artist Marela Zacarías. | Photo by Sea-Tac Airport
Nonstop flights
Sea-Tac offers 124 nonstop flights (soon to be 126 next summer)— 94 domestic onesto everyUS region, plus 30 international flights to 20 countries. Here are five popular, nonstop international flights.
Gates
Here are all thegates and their nearby popular amenities, shops, and lounges:
A Gates | Terminal getaway spa, United Club, duty free shop, children’s play area, Little Free Library
B Gates | Delta Assistance Center, Southwest Customer Service, charging stations
C Gates | Alaska Airlines Lounge, nursing room, auditory assistance
The Concert Truck: Washington Park Arboretum | 11:30 a.m. | Washington Park Arboretum UW Botanic Gardens | Free | Head to Crabapple Meadow for this hour-long folk-inspired live concert — bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair.
Independence Day Boots & Brews | 5:30-10 p.m. | Watts Brewing Company, Woodinville | Free | Kick off the Fourth of July festivities with line dancing and lagers — food trucks and a hat bar will also be on-site.
Friday, July 4
West Seattle 4th of July Kids | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Admiral neighborhood, West Seattle | Free | Wear your most festive Fourth of July outfits and enjoy fire trucks, food trucks, sack races, and more at this neighborhood family parade.
Bellevue Family 4th | 5-10:30 p.m. | Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue | Free | The Eastside’s largest Independence Day celebration is back this year with entertainment, activities, and of course, fireworks.
Saturday, July 5
Public Garden Tour | Saturday, July 5-Sunday, July 6 | 12-1 p.m. | Bellevue Botanical Garden, Bellevue | Free | Take an hour-long docent-led tour of the Botanical Garden to learn about its flora and history — registration is not required, donations are optional.
Sunday, July 6
Green Lake Litter Patrol | Times vary | Seattle Public Theater | Free | Volunteer with other Seattleites to keep this park clean — meet at the Bath House Theater parking lot to sign in.
Board Game Sunday | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Seattle Public Library Ballard Branch | Free | Join other board game enthusiasts in the meeting room to play games with varying levels of strategy.
Monday, July 7
Queer Silent Book Club Seattle @ Ada’s | 6-8 p.m. | Ada’s Technical Books and Cafe | Free | Read with peers every first Monday of the month — an hour of silent reading followed by book talks are on the agenda.
Embodied Altars: All Levels Dance Class | 6:30-8 p.m. | Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center | $10+ | Designed by Indigenous Mexican-American artist Alicia Mullikin, this class weaves ancient + contemporary movement together to explore authentic storytelling.
Tuesday, July 8
Figure It Out - Queer Figure Drawing | 6-10 p.m. | Vermillion Art Gallery & Bar | Free | All skill levels are invited to hone their skills in this model drawing session — $15 suggested donation.
Robot Sunsets & Two Horses Too Many | 7:30 p.m. | The Royal Room | $20 | Jam along to this four-piece band as they play original quirky + satirical songs.
400,000. That’s how many passengers are expected to ride the ferry this weekend. The Washington State Ferries Service is adding a second boat between Port Townsend and Coupeville every Friday-Monday from July 4 to October 13, 2025. (Seattle Times)
Traffic
Hmmm... we’re picking up on a theme here. Seattle is the second-highest domestic travel destination for the Fourth of July weekend, thanks in part to Alaska cruise departures. Why should you care? Traffic delays are expected — avoiding southbound I5 and eastbound I90 is recommended. (Seattle Times)
Ranked
The Museum of Flight is the No. 2 best aviation museum in the US, according to Travel + Leisure. We can’t say we’re surprised — with 175 aircraft and thousands of aviation artifacts to peruse, it’s an impressive display.
Arts
The Seattle Storm and Climate Pledge Arena are unveiling a statue honoring WNBA Hall of Famer Sue Bird. The point guard will be the Storm’s first player immortalized in stone. Community members are invited to the unveiling + fan fest on Sunday, August 17, at 10 a.m. at Climate Pledge Arena’s west plaza.
Tech
Electric ferries are joining Seattle’s fleet by 2029. A Florida builder, Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, was selected to build three vessels. Washington Transportation aims to have a fully electrified fleet by 2040. (Seattle Times)
Show
Tickets for a one-night-only showing of “The Sound of Strip!” are on sale. Head to Tacoma’s McMenamins Spanish Ballroom on Friday, August 22 for an evening of live jazz, burlesque, and pizzazz.
Sports
The July trade floodgates may finally be open. Will the Seahawks enter the mix looking to swing a deal soon?. Hear from the local experts on the Seattle Seahawks with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Your fifties + beyond is a great time to build wealth. Beyond basics like bulk shopping and retirement accounts, here are 14 financial benefits seniors are entitled to (but often forget to claim).*
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The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
More pets go missing on the Fourth of July than on any other day of the year. In fact, shelters across the country typically see a 30% spike in lost pets showing up.
Pro tip: Keep your pets safe by leaving them inside and ensuring windows and doors are locked. Just in case, an AirTag can bring some peace of mind — my dog Ruby is always sporting one just in case she makes an escape.
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