SeatacSeatac Connection
Things to do in Seattle

Great Wheel

Three slow turns in an enclosed gondola out over Elliott Bay, from the end of Pier 57 on the downtown waterfront.

Get a ride therePlan a Seattle trip with itTickets and tours
Illustration of the Seattle waterfront with the Great Wheel, a pier, a ferry and Mount Rainier

The useful answer

Should this fit your day?

Best for
First-time visitors, couples and families who want an easy look at the bay and the skyline, whatever the weather.
Time to protect
Allow about an hour: 10 to 20 minutes on the wheel, plus any line and a wander around Pier 57.
Cruise-day fit
Pier 57 is on the same downtown waterfront as Pier 66, under a mile south, so it's an easy add-on the day before or after a sailing. Strollers and a bag can wait by the loading dock, but a whole party's cruise luggage is another matter. Pier 91 needs a separate ride.
From the terminals
Pier 66 is a flat waterfront walk to the north, past the Aquarium and Pier 62. Pier 91 is a road trip away, so plan a ride each way.
Before a flight
Tickets aren't timed and the ride is short, so it slots easily into a flight day. Leave the waterfront early enough for the drive to SEA and your airline's bag-drop cutoff.

What to know before you go

  1. 01

    Every ride is three full turns of the wheel. How long that takes depends on the crowd: usually 10 to 20 minutes, a little longer in summer.

  2. 02

    The 42 gondolas are fully enclosed and hold up to eight people, so it runs in rain, snow and fog. On busy days smaller groups may share a gondola.

  3. 03

    Tickets are sold at the booth on the pier or online, and they aren't tied to a date or time. Print an online ticket, or you'll wait in the cashier line anyway.

  4. 04

    A lift and ramp let wheelchairs roll straight into the gondolas. Big bags, suitcases and strollers wait by the loading dock with an attendant nearby, and there's no food or drink on board.

  5. 05

    One VIP gondola has a glass floor and is always private. Ask at the ticket booth on the pier about upgrading.

  6. 06

    Pier 57 also has seafood restaurants, an arcade, a carousel and Wings Over Washington, so it's easy to make an hour of it.

The wheel can close early on quiet days and stops in very high winds or lightning. Check the official site for current hours, tickets and notices before you go.

Tours and activities

Tours and tickets for the Great Wheel

Well-reviewed tours and tickets, with current prices. Check a date to see open start times, then book with Viator.

Tours are sold and run through Viator; booking opens viator.com in a new tab, and Viator confirms the final price and time. Seatac may earn a commission.

Book tickets and tours

Pick a ticket time that leaves room for the ride back. Timed entry, guided tours and city passes all work; check the live price and times for your date.

  • Tours and activities

    Seattle tours and tickets

    Guided tours, attraction tickets and day trips around Seattle, including options near the Great Wheel.

    See tours and tickets

Opens a booking partner in a new tab; Seatac Connection may earn a commission. You can also buy direct on the Seattle Great Wheel visitor FAQ.

Get a ride there

Drop-off: Seattle Great Wheel, Pier 57

Starting from

Your fare is worked out for the exact trip on the next step, before you pay. Want the car to wait while you visit? Book by the hour.

Cruise day: the Great Wheel between the ship and your flight

Off the ship with a few hours before your flight? Book the ride from the pier and the ride on to the airport now, so each driver knows where you are going.

  1. Step 1

    Ride from the pier

    Pier 66 is a flat waterfront walk to the north, past the Aquarium and Pier 62. Pier 91 is a road trip away, so plan a ride each way.

    From Pier 66From Pier 91

  2. Step 2

    Visit the Great Wheel

    Allow about an hour: 10 to 20 minutes on the wheel, plus any line and a wander around Pier 57.

    Tickets and tours

  3. Step 3

    Ride on to Seatac Airport

    Tickets aren't timed and the ride is short, so it slots easily into a flight day. Leave the waterfront early enough for the drive to SEA and your airline's bag-drop cutoff.

    Great Wheel to the airport

Big bags

  • Pier 66: Same-day bag storage is available. Pick bags up by 3 pm to avoid a late fee.
  • Pier 91: Same-day bag storage in the Crew Center, north of the Ground Transportation Center. Pick bags up by 3 pm to avoid a late fee.

Stored bags mean a stop back at the pier before the airport. To keep them with you instead, book a car by the hour and the driver waits with your luggage.

Planning the whole cruise trip? Keep the Great Wheel on it with the rides around it.

Plan the whole cruise trip

Not sure which pier? Find your ship and pier or compare Pier 66 and Pier 91.

Compare another stop