Getting to Edmonds by Car, Bus, or Train

by Alicia Butler, January 8, 2023

Distance Between Edmonds to Seattle – 17.1 Miles/22 Minute-Drive

When I lived in Seattle, I hardly ever made it up to Edmonds. But now that my best friend lives there, I visit this city at least once a year when I visit.

Edmonds is a bedroom community of Seattle — and if you’ve been to the Emerald City before, are spending more than a week here, or just want to get away from all the tourists, Edmonds is worth the visit.

The drive to Edmonds from Seattle’s city center takes only about 25 minutes, and the drive from Seattle city limits takes only about 15 minutes.

But there are other, more convenient ways to get between the two cities, too. 

If you’re wondering how far Edmonds is from Seattle, it’s truly not that far. Find out how to get between Edmonds and Seattle by train, car, and bus; and what you should do once you get to Edmonds.

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How far is Edmonds from Seattle city limits?

Seattle is a relatively big city. To get from Downtown Seattle to Edmonds, it’ll take about 25 minutes without traffic.

But it only takes about 15 minutes to get to Edmonds from the northern edge of Seattle, which is 145th Street. If you’re staying in North Seattle or planning activities in this part of the city, you’ll find that it’s relatively easier to get between the two cities — especially if you’re traveling by car or bus.

Getting From Seattle to Edmonds

There are three ways to get to Edmonds from Seattle, including by train, car, and bus. 

Depending on when you leave Seattle, travel time could vary. It could take as little as 25 minutes to get between Seattle and Edmonds — or, it could take up to an hour.

Seattle to Edmonds by Car

One of the most convenient ways to get to Edmonds from Seattle is by car. 

Edmonds is a pretty straight shot up I-5 North from Seattle and it only takes about 25 minutes to get to Edmonds from Downtown without traffic.

Sadly, there’s almost always traffic in Seattle. So, you’ll want to plan at least 45 minutes to an hour to get between the two by car.

Seattle to Edmonds by Train

If you don’t have any time restrictions, getting to Edmonds by train might be your best bet.

Yet, there are advantages and disadvantages of traveling by train that you should consider before booking your ticket. 

It only takes 25 minutes to get from King Street Station in Downtown Seattle by Amtrak or the Sounder, which is the commuter train. 

If you’re traveling by Amtrak, there’s a train that leaves Seattle at 8:30 a.m. To return to Seattle, you’ll either need to take the 11:00 a.m train (which leaves you not really enough time in Edmonds, if you ask me) or the one at 8:30 p.m. (which may leave you with too much time in Edmonds).

There’s also an Amtrak that leaves Edmonds at 3:30 p.m. with a bus connection to King Street Station. That journey is only scheduled to take 40 minutes.

So, your best option would be to take the 8:30 a.m. train from Seattle to Edmonds and then the 3:30 p.m. train/bus combo back to Seattle. 

If you’re traveling by Sounder, the trains between Seattle and Edmonds only leave in the evening on weekdays. 

The Sounder only runs on the weekend if there’s a sporting event in Seattle, and then only after the end of the event — so, you’ll need to find another way back to Seattle, such as rideshare or bus.

The Amtrak costs between $8 and $11 each way, and the Sounder costs $4 each way. If you’re on a travel budget, obviously the Sounder is the way to go. You’re just going to sacrifice a few dollars for convenience. 

Bus From Seattle to Edmonds

It takes about an hour and a half to get to Edmonds by bus, and there’s no direct bus between the two cities.

You could also take the Seattle light rail from Downtown up to Northgate Station and then take a bus from Northgate to Edmonds. 

This isn’t really the fastest way to get to Edmonds from Seattle, and I’m not sure I would recommend it. 

The light rail takes about 40 minutes to get from Seattle to Edmonds, and then it takes about an hour to get to Edmonds from Northgate by bus.

Things to Do in Edmonds

Once you get to Edmonds, you’ll be happy you decided to visit. This city is much quieter than Seattle and offers a beautiful slice of Pacific Northwest life.

There’s plenty to do here — especially on the weekends. 

Downtown Edmonds

Probably the best activity in Edmonds is discovering the city’s shops and restaurants. 

There are so many little shops in the city center, and you could spend hours poking around in them. 

Edmonds is also kind of a little foodie city. You’ll find all types of cuisine here as well as different ambiances, themes, and price points.

You could just as easily walk into an awesome dive bar as you would a high-end restaurant. 

Some of my favorite restaurants in Downtown Edmonds include:

• Rory’s
• Demitris
• Salt and Iron
• Anthony’s
• Rusty Pelican
• Claire’s Pantry
• Kahlo’s Cantina

For coffee, go to Waterfront Coffee Company. They have strong coffee and really tasty baked goods. 

Edmonds Waterfront/Beach

The Edmonds waterfront and beaches are some of my favorites in the Seattle area. 

You can walk along the waterfront or down the pier, sit, and watch the ferries sail by. Or, you could claim a spot on one of the beaches, including Sunset Beach, Marina, Beach, and Marina Beach Park.

If you love water views but not the sand, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Puget Sound without getting up close and personal.

I’d recommend walking along Sunset Avenue, which has plenty of benches to stop, sit, and ponder the meaning of life.

Or, grab a table on Dimitri’s covered porch or at Anthony’s. 

Ferry to Kingston

If you really want to get close to the water and avoid the sand, you could take the ferry to Kingston. 

It takes about 30 minutes to get to Kingston from Edmonds by ferry and the views are worth the ride alone. 

Kingston offers similar attractions to Downtown Edmonds, including beaches, restaurants, coffee, and more. 

Saturday Market/Farmers Market

Visit Edmonds on Saturday in the summertime to visit the Sunday market, which includes a farmers market as well as a craft market.

Walking Trails

In typical Pacific Northwest fashion, there are plenty of walking trails in Edmonds. You can feel totally isolated from the city walking through Pine Ridge Park or Yost Park. 

The best part is that you won’t be more than 10 minutes from the street, so you can easily leave whenever you’re ready.

Cascadia Art Museum

If you’re visiting Edmonds Wednesday through Sunday, stop by the Cascadia Art Museum. This museum specializes in Pacific Northwest art and is well worth the visit.

Plan for about 45 minutes to an hour and a half to get a full view of the exhibits.

Edmonds Theater

The Edmonds Theater is a historic theater that plays first-run movies as well as a few oldies but goodies, too.

Getting Around Edmonds

If you’re planning on taking the bus or the train to Edmonds, getting around is relatively easy.

Downtown Edmonds is totally walkable and you’re honestly better off not having a car in this area of the city.

Luckily, most of the attractions are located in Downtown, so you won’t really need to travel far to get where you want to go.

There are buses that run along Main Street, and rideshares within the city cost only about $8 per trip.

More Day Trips From Seattle

If you have some time to take a few more day trips from Seattle, there are plenty of other nearby cities to visit. 

Though the distance to Tacoma from Seattle is a bit greater than between Edmonds and Seattle, it’s much easier to get to Tacoma from the Emerald City by train. 

Another one of my favorite day trips from Seattle is Leavenworth. The distance from Leavenworth to Seattle is about 117 miles, and it takes about two and a half hours to drive between the two cities.

But the time and distance are well worth the experience!

You could also visit Victoria, Canada, for the day by taking the Clipper or Vancouver, Canada, by taking the Amtrak train or driving.