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Major city · United States

RentonRenton, Washington

Base in Renton only if you have a car and want cheaper beds near Seattle: 1 night, or 2 if you add the Boeing plant area and Cedar River Trail.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun-Sep (warm, dry, salmon run in Sep)
avoid Nov-Mar (rain, short days)
Airports
SEA · BFI · RNT
Nights
1-2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Renton is a suburban city on the south shore of Lake Washington, 20-30 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle by car. It is best known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant and the Jimi Hendrix Memorial. Most travellers use it as a cheaper, quieter base for Seattle or as a stop on the way to the Cascades.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Renton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4-6
  • Sit-down mealSteak dinner at Melrose GrillReserve ahead on weekends.$30-50
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12-20
  • BeerDraught beer at a downtown bar$6-9
  • Museum or sight ticketRenton History Museum entrycheck$5 adults, $2 children
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
  • Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$280

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$250

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Boeing 737 assembly plantJimi Hendrix MemorialCedar River Trail and salmon runGene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
Airports
SEA Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (About 15-25 min by car via I-405 and SR-518; Link light rail to Tukwila International Blvd then bus.) · BFI King County International Airport (Boeing Field) (General aviation and some charters, northwest in Seattle.) · RNT Renton Municipal Airport (Seaplane base next to the Boeing plant; no scheduled airline service.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Renton: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

18 rd

Feb

10°C

2°C

15 rd

Mar

12°C

3°C

17 rd

Apr

15°C

5°C

14 rd

May

19°C

8°C

11 rd

Jun

22°C

11°C

9 rd

Jul

25°C

13°C

5 rd

Aug

25°C

13°C

5 rd

Sep

22°C

11°C

8 rd

Oct

16°C

7°C

14 rd

Nov

11°C

4°C

18 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: I-405 and SR-167 connect Renton to Bellevue, Seattle, Kent and the airport, and many sights sit along highways. King County Metro and Sound Transit buses run from the Renton Transit Center, with routes 101, 105, 106, 240, 560 and 566 covering Seattle, Bellevue, the airport and Kent. Fares are about $3 for 2 hours (check). The nearest Link light rail station is Tukwila International Blvd, a bus ride away.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Door to door: About 40-60 min by car, 50-70 min by bus

Car via I-405 and I-5, or King County Metro route 101 from the Renton Transit Center

Downtown Seattle is the main reason to base here; go early to beat I-5 traffic.

Bellevue

go

Door to door: About 20-30 min

Car via I-405, or Sound Transit route 560/566

Shopping and restaurants; easy half-day.

Federal Way

caution

Door to door: About 30-40 min

Car via I-5 south, or bus connections through Kent

Mostly a shopping and suburban stop; go only if you have a reason.

Redmond

go

Door to door: About 35-50 min

Car via I-405 and SR-520, or Sound Transit route 566

Tech campus area and Marymoor Park; combine with Bellevue.

Issaquah

go

Door to door: About 25-35 min

Car via I-90 east

Trailheads and the salmon hatchery; a good half-day with a car.

Vashon Island

overnight

Door to door: About 1.5-2 h

Car to the Fauntleroy or Point Defiance ferry, then ferry

Ferry timing makes a day trip tight; sleep one night.

Kirkland

go

Door to door: About 25-35 min

Car via I-405 north

Waterfront park and restaurants; easy evening out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Renton

Walkable core with the transit center, antiques shops, bars and the Renton History Museum; best for a car-free night.

The Landing

Outdoor mall area with chain hotels and restaurants, walkable to Gene Coulon Beach Park; good for families.

Renton Highlands

Cheaper motels along NE 4th St; you need a car or a bus ride to reach downtown.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70-110 excl. bed
Mid
$120-200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Car rental, one day1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
King County Metro fare, 2 hours2 × US$3 · checkUS$6
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$52
Trip total≈ US$284 per person per day, bed includedUS$568

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4-6
Diner breakfast$12-20
Casual lunch$15-25
Steak dinner at Melrose GrillReserve ahead on weekends.$30-50
Draught beer at a downtown bar$6-9
Renton History Museum entrycheck$5 adults, $2 children
Henry Moses Aquatic Center, non-residentcheck; open mid-June through Labor Day$15

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Renton is a normal American suburb and generally safe in the day; the real risks are car break-ins in mall and trailhead lots, wet winter roads, and thin sidewalks outside downtown. Keep valuables out of sight and use 911 for emergencies.
  • Public transit is thin outside downtown and the Landing: expect long walks to reach most sights.
  • Rush hour on I-405 and SR-167 can double your drive time; plan around 7-9am and 4-6pm.
  • Winter is wet and grey from November to March; pack a rain shell.
  • Some motels along the highway are cheaper but far from food and transit: check the walk before you book.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

RentonRenton, Washington

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

Most embassies and consulates are in Seattle or Washington, DC; check your country's list for the nearest office.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • King County Metro, 2 hours: about $3 (check)
  • Taxi or rideshare, Renton to downtown Seattle: $35-55 (check)
  • Car rental, one day: from about $60 plus fuel (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the bus stop? — Where is the bus stop? (wair iz thuh bus stop)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (kan eye pay by kard)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (how much iz it)
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken? (iz this seet tay-kun)
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom? (wair iz thuh rest-room)
  • Thanks, have a good one. — Thanks, have a good one. (thanks, hav uh good wun)

Tipping is expected: 18-22% at sit-down restaurants, $1-2 a drink, 15-20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Renton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun-Sep (warm, dry, salmon run in Sep) · avoid Nov-Mar (rain, short days) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SEA: last Link and bus departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown Renton, the Landing, Gene Coulon Beach Park, Renton Highlands.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Jimi Hendrix Memorial, Renton History Museum, Henry Moses Aquatic Center) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A-D can go green.

Sources