Taking the Sounder Train From Puyallup to Seattle

Yes, and for the right person it is the best commute in Pierce County. You board in downtown Puyallup, sit down, and step off in Seattle less than an hour later without touching Interstate 5.

The train is also a specific tool. It runs on a commuter schedule, on weekdays, to one station in Seattle. Here is how it works and how to tell whether it fits your job.

The quick facts

Times are from the Sound Transit S Line schedule. Schedules, fares, and trip counts change. Check the current timetable before you plan around it.

The route

The S Line runs between Lakewood and Seattle. The stations, from south to north:

1. Lakewood
2. South Tacoma
3. Tacoma Dome
4. Puyallup
5. Sumner
6. Auburn
7. Kent
8. Tukwila
9. King Street Station, Seattle

From Puyallup, Sumner is the next stop a few minutes away. Auburn and Kent follow, and both are job centers in their own right. Plenty of Puyallup riders get off before Seattle.

The schedule, in plain terms

Sounder is commuter rail. The trains are timed around a standard workday.

• Morning. Northbound trains leave Puyallup from about 5 a.m. through mid-morning.
• Afternoon and evening. Southbound trains leave Seattle from mid-afternoon into the early evening.
• Reverse direction. A small number of trips run south in the morning and north in the afternoon.
• Midday. There is a gap in the middle of the day.
• Weekends. No regular service. Special trains run for some events.

At this writing, Sound Transit lists about a dozen weekday trips in each direction. The agency has adjusted the schedule several times over the years, so always confirm the current one.

What this means for you: if you work a fairly standard day shift, the train fits. If you start at noon, work weekends, or often stay late, you will need a backup for some trips.

Puyallup Station

The station is at the north edge of downtown, on West Main Avenue between Meridian and 5th Street Northwest. It is a short walk from Pioneer Park and the downtown shops.

Parking. Sound Transit operates a multi-level parking garage with about 500 stalls, connected to the station by a pedestrian bridge, along with additional surface lots nearby. The lots serve transit riders. Spaces closest to the platform fill first, so give yourself a cushion until you learn the pattern.

Getting dropped off. There is a passenger drop-off area. For two-commuter households, a ride to the station saves a parking space and a few minutes.

Buses. Pierce Transit routes and Sound Transit's Route 578 serve the station. Pierce Transit has also run an on-demand service in a Puyallup zone that includes the station.

Walking and biking. If you live in the downtown grid, you can walk. The valley floor is flat, and the city and Sound Transit have added sidewalks, curb ramps, and bike lanes on streets leading to the station.

What it costs

Sounder fares are based on distance.

• Adults: fares on the line range from a few dollars for a short trip up to roughly six dollars for the longest ones. Puyallup to Seattle is toward the upper end.
• Youth 18 and under: ride free on Sound Transit services.
• Seniors, riders with disabilities, and income-qualified riders: reduced fares are available with the right card.
• Passes: monthly passes on an ORCA card cover unlimited trips at a given fare level.

Ask your employer before you buy anything. Many Seattle employers provide a transit pass or a pretax transit benefit, which can bring your cost close to zero.

Compare that with driving: fuel, wear on the car, express lane tolls if you use them, and downtown parking. For a five-day commuter, the train is usually far cheaper.

Door to door

The train ride is the predictable part. The time on either end is what varies.

If you live in downtown Puyallup and work in Pioneer Square, you are at the short end, and you will read a lot of books. If you live on the south end of South Hill and work in South Lake Union, you are at the long end.

From King Street Station to your desk

King Street Station is at the south end of downtown Seattle, next to the stadiums.

Link light rail stops at International District/Chinatown Station, a few minutes' walk from the Sounder platform. That connection is what makes the train workable for jobs outside the south end of downtown.

Train or car: a side-by-side look

Most five-day commuters to downtown Seattle who try both end up on the train. Most people with irregular hours or a workplace far from the station end up driving. A fair number do both: the train on standard days and the car when they need to leave early or stay late.

A sample day

Here is what a typical train day looks like for someone who lives in the valley and works downtown.

Leave the house a little after 6. Park in the garage and walk across the bridge to the platform. Board a train around 6:30. Arrive at King Street Station around 7:20. Walk or ride light rail a stop or two and be at a desk before 8. In the afternoon, catch a train a little before 5 and be home around 6.

That is roughly an eleven-hour day away from home for an eight-hour workday, which is the real cost of living this far from Seattle. The difference is that nearly two hours of it are yours to use.

Who it works for

It fits well if you:

• Work within a short walk or one easy transfer of King Street Station, or in Kent, Auburn, or Tukwila near a station
• Keep regular daytime hours
• Live in the valley or within a reasonable drive of Puyallup Station
• Go to the office several days a week, which makes a pass worthwhile
• Would rather read or work than drive

It fits poorly if you:

• Work evenings, nights, or weekends
• Need a car during the workday
• Have unpredictable end times
• Work far from a station on the Seattle end
• Handle daycare pickup with a hard closing time and no backup

That last one deserves a second look. If the train is late and you are the only person who can pick up a child by 6 p.m., you need a second plan. Many households solve it by splitting drop-off and pickup between two adults.

When the train is not running

Have a backup. You will need it a few times a year.

• Sound Transit Route 578 runs between Puyallup Station and downtown Seattle by way of Sumner, Auburn, and Federal Way. It covers midday, evening, and weekend hours when the train does not run. It is slow, often well over an hour, but it gets you home. See the Route 578 schedule.
• Light rail plus a ride. Link runs all day and has been extending south through King County. A partner or ride-hail can meet you at the southern end of the line.
• Service disruptions. Sounder runs on tracks shared with freight trains. Mudslides, track work, and freight interference occasionally delay or cancel trips. Sound Transit sends rider alerts by text and email. Sign up on day one.

Riding tips from regulars

1. Get an ORCA card and load it before your first trip, or use the transit app to buy tickets on your phone.
2. Tap on and tap off. Sounder charges by distance, so you tap at both ends.
3. Arrive ten minutes early for the first few weeks.
4. Pick a car and stick with it. Regulars learn which car lines up with the stairs at their destination.
5. Bring layers. The platform is cold in January.
6. Use the time. Trains have tables, restrooms, and room for bikes.
7. Know your last train. Put it in your phone.

Special trains

Sound Transit runs extra Sounder trips for some major events, including select Seattle sports games and the Washington State Fair. For the fair, trains bring visitors to Puyallup Station with shuttle connections to the fairgrounds. For game days, Puyallup residents can ride to the stadiums and skip the parking.

Event service is announced for each season. Check Sound Transit before you count on it.

Where to live if you plan to ride

If the train is central to your decision, choose your home around the station.

Walking distance. The downtown grid and the blocks north and south of Main Avenue put you within a 5 to 15 minute walk. Homes here are mostly older, on smaller lots, and you get the rest of downtown as a bonus. I describe this area in my post on walkable Puyallup.

A short drive. Most of the valley floor is within 5 to 10 minutes of the station: the northwest neighborhoods toward Clarks Creek, the east side toward Shaw Road, and the lower slopes of the hill.

South Hill. You can still ride from the hill. Add the drive down, which runs 10 to 25 minutes depending on how far south you live and what Meridian is doing. People on the far south end sometimes find that the drive to the station erases the advantage.

Sumner Station. If you live on the east side of the area, Sumner Station may be just as close. It is the next stop north.

One caution about living right next to the tracks. Freight and passenger trains run through downtown at all hours, and horns sound at crossings. Visit at night before you buy a home within a few blocks of the line.

Is the train a reason to choose Puyallup?

For many buyers, yes. A predictable ride to Seattle is rare this far south, and only a handful of Pierce County communities have a station. A home within easy reach of one has an advantage that does not depend on the price of gas or the state of Interstate 5.

Keep it in proportion, though. Service levels are set by a transit agency and can change. Buy a home you would be glad to own even if your job, or the schedule, changed.

Try it first

Before you commit, ride it. Park at the station on a weekday, take a morning train, walk to where your office is, and come home on an afternoon train. One round trip will tell you more than any guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Sounder train go from Puyallup to Seattle?

Yes. The Sounder S Line stops at Puyallup Station and runs north to King Street Station in Seattle, with stops in Sumner, Auburn, Kent, and Tukwila.

How long is the Sounder ride from Puyallup to Seattle?

About 49 minutes from Puyallup Station to King Street Station, according to Sound Transit's schedule.

Does the Sounder run on weekends?

Not on a regular schedule. It is a weekday commuter service. Sound Transit runs special trains for some events, and Route 578 buses cover weekends.

Is there parking at Puyallup Station?

Yes. There is a multi-level garage with about 500 stalls plus additional surface lots for transit riders.

How much does the Sounder cost from Puyallup to Seattle?

Adult fares are distance-based and run up to roughly six dollars one way on the line. Youth 18 and under ride free, reduced fares are available, and many employers provide passes.

Related reading

• Can You Live in Puyallup and Commute to Seattle?
• Which Parts of Puyallup Are Best for Your Commute?
• Walkable Puyallup: Where to Live Near Shops and Restaurants
• Downtown Puyallup vs. South Hill: What Is the Difference?

Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Robertson & Co. supports fair housing and does not describe or recommend neighborhoods based on who lives there. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.