Transit Choices in Puget Sound – Riding the Seattle Monorail

The Seattle Monorial passes in front of the EMP Museum

A series of articles on Public Transit Choices

The Seattle Monorail

By Brian Doennebrink

Built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the nation’s first full-scale commercial monorail system, the Seattle Center Monorail, links downtown Seattle and Seattle Center.

The 200-passenger monorail departs every 10 minutes for the two-minute trip between the Westlake Center Station, at 5th Avenue and Pine Street, and the Seattle Center station, adjacent to the Space Needle. Currently, the system is on its winter schedule: M-F opening at 7:30am, weekends at 8:30am, closing Sun.-Th. at 9:00pm and at 11:00pm on Fri.-Sat.

Tickets are cash only, purchased from the Monorail cashier (either at a ticket booth on the platform or onboard), are only valid on the monorail, and for a one way trip cost $2.25 for Adults, $1.00 for Youth ages 5-12, and $1.00 for reduced rate (seniors 65+, disabled, persons with Medicare cards, & active duty U.S. military). Children 4 and under ride free. The Monorail does not accept ORCA, debit/credit, or Sound Transit cards. Unlimited monthly passes cost $45/month for adults, $20/month for those eligible for a reduced rate, and can be purchased online.

There is a online school group registration form that, if filled out at least one business day in advance, can get your school a group rate. Further, their website notes that “advanced prepaid group tickets are available for large groups, conventions and/or organizations.”

Further, “dogs are allowed as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash. On busy/crowded days, it is possible that the owner may be asked to hold their dog in their lap.”

The monorail runs between Seattle Center and Westlake Center

The Monorail is handicap/stroller accessible. 

“At Westlake Center, you can access the platform from the elevator located on 5th Ave (between Olive and Pine). At Seattle Center, there are ramps that allow for easy access. There are yellow gates at Seattle Center platform that pull out to allow wheelchairs easy entrance into the trains.”