Where Park 36ft RV To Access DT Seattle

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

We were hoping to spend about 3 days to explore Seattle = check out Pikes Market, some of the terminals at the water front, maybe even do some fishing and just generally get a bit of a feel for Seattle whilst touring around Washington.

Upon checking RV park reviews the nearest CG close to taking transportation within half hour to DT Seattle has pretty bad write ups (Travellers Inn Bellevue), and now has us wondering if we can't just pull in late one night somewhere or next morning and safely leave the RV all day at one of the following to catch transportation to explore Seattle for at least a day.

Value any comments/suggestions on how best to experience the key points of Seattle without a toad even if it's just for a day instead of our intended two or three days. We aren't afraid to walk or cycle a lot.

Anyone know if there is ample parking for our RV at the Marketplace 4055 Factoria Square Mall SE, Bellevue, WA 98006? Could we stay here overnight maybe to get an early start the next day?

We will be coming in from Tacoma end so wondering about the Southgate Mall maybe that's open until 9pm I believe and whether there's good transportation from here to DT Seattle and the Pikes Market place, waterfronts etc? Or even the Northgate Mall.

Appreciate all suggestions of what worked well for you when visiting Seattle. Even if we had a car I'm not sure we'd want to drive into the DT core anyway.

[2gypsies1]

It seems that the ferry took about an hour or so. I don't recall exactly.

There is plenty of parking at the ferry you wouldn't have to walk from a campground. We stayed in Chimacum at the Escapees park near Port Townsend and drove to the ferry.

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

2gypsies wrote:
If you're coming from Tacoma, you could head north on the Olympic Peninsula around Port Townsend or towns south of there. There is a ferry over to Seattle that lets you off near the Aquarium and Pike Market. You can then catch a fun monorail that will whisk you off to the Space Needle. This can all be done in a day trip or go multiple days to do different things. It makes for a very pleasant day and the ferry is just a short calming ride. Do Pike Market last because you'll buy things and then they'll be easy to transport on the ferry return.

Any idea how long the Ferry ride across and how far a walk to the ferry from the nearest comfortable CG?

We intend to do the peninsula for sure but we also want to do Seattle and spend a good day or maybe two exploring effectively Seattle.

Many thanks. FTW

[greenrvgreen]

Was that really an accent grave over the "e", or just dust on my monitor? You have some sort of frenchified keyboard?

To the OP: If you want to enjoy your exploration of Seattle, position yourself near the Bremerton or other Olympic penninsula ferry terminals. There are several nice state parks within a short drive of the Bremerton ferry, where you can park and walk on and leave your traffic troubles behind.

FWIW, the ENTIRE SEATTLE WATERFRONT is torn up due to liberal activist makework projects. Pike's market is still open, where you can watch your salmon being tossed and wrapped, a spectacle I never get tired of.

[EsoxLucius]

We stayed at Trailers Inn in Bellevue last October without incident. Just a short walk to the bus stop. We also used our toad occasionally. We would stay there again.

Vasa Park Resort is nice as well.

[2gypsies1]

If you're coming from Tacoma, you could head north on the Olympic Peninsula around Port Townsend or towns south of there. There is a ferry over to Seattle that lets you off near the Aquarium and Pike Market. You can then catch a fun monorail that will whisk you off to the Space Needle. This can all be done in a day trip or go multiple days to do different things. It makes for a very pleasant day and the ferry is just a short calming ride. Do Pike Market last because you'll buy things and then they'll be easy to transport on the ferry return.

[chilly81]

Not especially close or convenient to Seattle - but depending on your needs and budget - there is at least one casino in the Tacoma area - "Red Wind" (wing?) that you can park at.

[catkins]

No place around Seattle allows camping in their parking lot overnight.......believe there are county ordinances.

Kent KOA would work for you as well as Lake Pleasant, a nice park. Seattle traffic is notorious for long delays so patience will be a must. The two parks in Issaquah are both large paved parking lots and almost on top of the freeway so there is constant traffic noise.

Wish we had better news for you - Seattle is not RV friendly even when trying to stay just outside............ I'd vote Kent KOA for closer and Lake Pleasant for nicer and quieter. Either one will require fighting traffic even on public transportation. Good luck -it really IS an amazing city.

[2oldman]

pas de problème

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

Thanks for correcting my errors on spelling and names = apologies, not being aufait with the area.

[2oldman]

Northgate Mall would be my first choice. Parking lot is huge, and really good bus service to downtown. I don't know about SC mall or the one in Bellevue as far as ample room or bus service.

path1 wrote:
Many people park out even further and take a bus/train or ferry into downtown.

I used to ride the Sounder train from Sumner, which would be a lot closer to the OP than Northgate Mall. Just not sure about big-rig parking around there.

As mentioned above, it's Southcenter Mall. It's also Pike Place market, not Pikes, and Tukwila, not Tukwilla.

[rr2254545]

We have stayed at the KOA in Kent for 100 days in the last 2 years, many people who stay there take the city bus that stopped across the street from the campground and went downtown each day - we also stayed at Lake Pleasant RV Park in 2010 and enjoyed it but do not know about the bus there.

We stayed in Kent because my son and family live in Kent

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

Much appreciated thanks for the reference, appears they have an express bus close to to DT Seattle which would be ideal.

[path1]

We will be coming in from Tacoma end so wondering about the Southgate Mall maybe that's open until 9pm I believe and whether there's good transportation from here to DT Seattle and the Pikes Market place, waterfronts etc?

Do you mean SouthCenter mall? Where I-5 and I-405 come together? If so their security will run you out. Usually right after they close the mall, if not before. And City of Tukwilla will also run you out of other places close to South Center mall.

wondering if we can't just pull in late one night somewhere or next morning and safely leave the RV all day at one of the following to catch transportation to explore Seattle for at least a day.

I see lots of places in and around Seattle where (lack of better word used lousily "urban campers") park. But you might also come back to your RV broken into.

There's a KOA about 4 miles south of South Center mall. And might not have any openings, be sure to call if that's an option. Lots of people stay at Lake Pleasant RV Park in Bothell.

Many people park out even further and take a bus/train or ferry into downtown.

[romore]

We drove in downtown Seattle. Once. Won't do that again, the streets are narrow and congested. We stayed at Lake Pleasant RV Park in Bothell, just north of dt and thoroughly enjoyed it. Clean, quiet and well run