RV rental near Seattle

Campervan Rental Seattle

Nestled in the heart of the United States’ Pacific Northwest, Seattle is a bustling city with lots of cultural attractions. The city itself boasts around 750,000 inhabitants, with a metropolitan area of four million. These statistics make Seattle one of the largest cities in America, and its population is growing quickly.

This lovely city is popular for a reason. Seattle is home to several major industries and iconic brands, such as Boeing airplanes, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Amazon. This is a major change from its humble roots as a logging town during the 1800’s.

Nowadays, the city’s high-tech companies and its vibrant music scene give the area a hip, fashionable feel. Here, you can sit in a coffee shop for hours, take in a museum, enjoy public gardens, attend a concert, and much more.

With an RV rental, there are lots of places to explore in this lovely city and its surrounding towns. Many people find that the weather is best in the spring and summer. That’s because Seattle is known for cold, wet weather. 

Should you choose to visit Seattle, you’ll need to pack clothing for bad weather. But don’t let the weather stop you. There’s plenty to do even in the rain.

Getting there

The City of Seattle is located on a stretch of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington. This means you have lots of waterfront locations to enjoy, including the Pacific Ocean.

Reaching Seattle is easy. The area’s larger airport, Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) is serviced by most major domestic airlines. In addition, many international airlines operate flights into and out of SEA, including from destinations in Europe and Asia.

If you’d rather rent an RV in Seattle to get there, Seattle is well connected to the country’s Interstate highway system. Interstate 5 runs north to south through the city. Interstate 90 heads east from the center of town and connects with highways all over the United States.

Likewise, it’s easy to get there by rail. In particular, Amtrak stops at the King Street Station at the southern end of town. Take the Link light rail to downtown: it not only stops at King Street, but also at SEA airport.

Places to visit

These can be something to drive through, or worth exploring local transportation to reach:

• Museum of Flight: As the birthplace of Boeing, Seattle is also home to this museum centered around the aviation industry and the evolution of airplanes.
• The Space Needle: Seattle’s biggest landmark is a restaurant and cocktail lounge. They also offer world-class views with a glass floor and glass-walled observation deck.
• Explore the Outdoors: There are lots of opportunities for outdoor activities. Stroll along the waterfront, or paddle in Lake Washington. Discovery Park offers plenty of recreation activities.

Parking

According to the Seattle Department of Transportation , on-street parking is readily available. In most locations, it’s 50 cents per hour. Just be certain to pay on two spaces if your RV needs it and watch out for signs. If you are ticketed, the average price is $47. For private parking downtown, check out the Cobb Garage ($10-20) or King Street Center ($10-20). Outside of town, there’s plenty of parking at the airport and at Shuttle Park 2. The latter offers transport to the airport and public transit hubs.

Annual Events in Seattle

One of the best things about Seattle is the potential for a front-row seat at certain annual events. Here are some experiences to take in during your stay:

• Northwest Folk Life Festival: A major multicultural arts and culture festival that embraces the peoples of the Northwest. Memorial Day weekend (May). By donation.
• Capitol Hill Block Party: Another arts festival taking place in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Every year, there are three days of performing arts events. Priced by performance.
• Earshot Jazz Festival: Seattle is famous for jazz music. The festival is held each year during October and November. Other performances throughout the year. Price: $10-40.

Camping in Seattle

Of course, if you rent an RV, you’ll need to park it somewhere. Here are some great local options.

• VASA Park Resort (Bellevue): This site is just outside Seattle and has lots of nearby amenities. Price: Partial sites at $46/night and full sites at $58.
• Manchester State Park (Port Orchard): About 10 miles outside the city. Full hookups available. Price: From $25/night.
• Lake Pleasant RV Park (Bothell): Sited north of Seattle, this is a great choice if you like to fish. Full hookups. Price: From $44 per night.