PNW Oppos: Where should we stay near Seattle?

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/27/2019 at 11:55 • Filed to: TQ3, TQ Adventures

As I’ve posted about before, in late August three of us are going to fly to Seattle, buy cheap cars, and then drive them to Anchorage. My question is, where should we stay in the Seattle area?

We were thinking around SeaTac so we have good access to the Seattle and Tacoma car markets, but I could also see staying in Bellevue or Kirkland ? Basically anywhere that we can find a modestly priced AirBnB, VRBO ( or whatever the ethical alternative is these days) that meets our requirements , below.

There are l ots of options, but we rarely have time to hang out in the 1st city so ease of access to cars for sale, tire shops, parts shops, and parking for 3+ cars is more important than ease of access to bars and food t hough both, obviously, would be epic.

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

Private accommodations for three

Relatively safe on-site parking for at least three cars

Centrally located for good car buying spots

Centrally located for car parts and shops

Avoiding toll heavy areas would make our lives easier

Help us Oppo !

DISCUSSION (8)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 12:02

The flight line at SEATAC looks pretty low rent. Lots of blue tarps over roofs and dead cars in the yard .

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 12:13

Any of these fine establishments. Hourly rates = cheap daily rates. Mmm savings.

Just sleep in a plastic bag.

https://www.yellowpages.com/seattle-wa/hourly-motels

wafflesnfalafel > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 12:14

Seatac/Federal Way would be good. Might also look into the Lynnwood area to the north as well. Bellevue/Redmond/Kirkland is nicer but more expensive and likely would involve more time in traffic.

twodudesnape > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 12:23

The only tolls you’ll run into are crossing Lake Washington (SR- 520) going Seattle/Bellevue and vice versa or taking the HOV/toll lanes going north/south on the Bellevue side of the lake (I- 405) . Staying on the west side of the lake there will be no tolls and you can take I- 90 across the lake toll free.

I would suggest staying outside of Seattle proper because it will be hard to find a place will lots of parking, but either north or south should be fine. South would probably be better just because you’ll be close to where you’re staying when you get to the Airport. H istorically, south of S eattle is more sketchy IMO, although it has really improved (gentrified?) in the last few years. Let me know if you have other questions about the area

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/27/2019 at 14:00

wat

RPM esq. > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 14:06

Don’t stay on the east side of the lake, that’s just begging for traffic and tolls given where you’re looking to go . Staying in the south end of Seattle if you want access to Tacoma is a good idea so you don’t have to cross downtown traffic until you’re ready to head north , although in my experience the north end suburbs (Shoreline, Lynnwood, Everett, etc.) are also a fertile used car market , with lots of used car lots, shops, and parts stores .

My recommendation for combining relatively easy airport and south end access, nearby restaurants and bars, and probably reasonably priced AirBnB-type accommodations with parking (probably not garages, but driveways or readily available residential street parking) : think about the Junction area of West Seattle (around the intersection of California Ave and SW Alaska St.), or near downtown White Center (near 16th Ave SW and SW Roxbury St.) . If you wanted to stay more centrally to see more of Seattle , north Beacon Hill (near downtown Seattle, but sufficiently south of it to avoid the very worst traffic, and connected by light rail for easy transportation if you go out drinking ) would be a good option . There are also plenty of parts stores and shops in the industrial area south of downtown Seattle , which would be easily accessible from the Junction or Beacon Hill.

Mid Engine > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 14:22

I would suggest Ev eret t, there’s lots of car dealers and parts stores, also a number of choice pick & pull lots.

Dogsatemypants > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/27/2019 at 18:41

Relatively safe rules out seatac. Not the nicest neighborhood. Bellevue is nice, but expensive and has no parking, my personal suggestion is to head a bit north to edmonds/lynnwood/mukilteo. It is about 30 miles out from seattle.