Click to go to Google Maps satellite view
There are several airports in the Seattle area, but this is the largest one. Unfortunately it does not have any sort of “official” viewing area – it was closed a couple years ago to make way for a new runway.
There are two spots where you can watch planes. S. 188th Street actually goes under runway 16L/34R and you can pull off on the shoulder after the runway bridge. If planes are landing to the north you’ll see them fairly close especially on approach to the west runway (16R/34L) as they will fly over this street. I did not encounter problems with police while doing this. Some people have reported success with photographing planes from the Tyee Valley Golf Course located south of the approach end of runway 34R (see map) but I did not try it.
The other area is best if planes are landing to the south (runways 16L & 16R) and is the parking lot of a waste water treatment plant located next to the Airport Employee Parking Lot. It is located off of 24th Ave. South and S. 146th St. as shown on the map.
Because this is Seattle’s main airport the traffic variety is good. The dominant airline here is Alaska and its regional affiliate Horizon Air, but you will see all the major airlines and some international flights from both Europe and Asia as well including British Airways, Asiana, and China Airlines.
Click for photos from the water plant parking lot
Click for photos from S. 188th St.