Kent (Washington)

Kent is the fourth largest city in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Located directly between the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, Kent has several distinct neighborhoods and commercial districts within its boundaries.

By car

 * I-5.svg Interstate 5 (I-5) passes through Kent near the western city limit. There are several exits from the highway.
 * WA-99.svg Pacific Hwy passes through alongside the western portion of Kent between S 272nd St and Kent-Des Moine Hwy (SR-516), between Federal Way and Sea-Tac along the westside of I-5. State Route (SR) 99 divides Kent (on eastside) from Des Moines (west of SR 99).
 * WA-167.svg from I-405.svg State Route (SR) 167 is the main freeway connecting exit #2 of I-405 through Renton, (downtown) Kent, Auburn, Sumner and Puyallup. It runs parallel to I-5 in the Kent Valley. Going north of I-405, this freeway ends but SR-167 continues north on Renton Ave as a 4 lane road through Renton towards Rainier Ave in South Settle.
 * WA-181.svg from I-405.svg West Valley Hwy (SR-181) serves as the major thoroughfare through Tukwila, from Exit 1 of I-405 into Kent and ends at SR-516 (Kent-Des Moines Hwy). W Valley Hwy continues south, into Auburn, as a two lane road.
 * WA-515.svg 108th Ave SE (SR-515) serves as the main north-south boulevard through the eastside of Kent and Renton.
 * WA-516.svg from WA-99.svg & I-5.svg Kent-Des Moines Hwy (SR-516) goes east and west from Hwy 99, across I-5 and down the hill to downtown Kent. Continues east along Smith Ave, up the hill, into S 256th.

By bus
Intercity bus services beyond the region stop at Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, or Tacoma.

Get around
Visitors are often surprised to find out just how large Kent actually is. Most tourists would want to concern themselves with the historic downtown area and nearby shopping centers.

By public transit
The transportation hub (bus and train station) is in downtown Kent on Railroad Ave between E James & Smith St. The station offers routes with service to Sea-Tac Intl. Airport, Seattle, Tukwila/Southcenter, Bellevue, Auburn, Burien (via SeaTac); Puyallup, Renton, Federal Way, and other surrounding cities.




 * Operates regional bus services to Federal Way.
 * Operates the Sounder Train between King Street Station in downtown Seattle and Lakewood Station (south of Tacoma) via Tukwila, Kent Station, Auburn, Sumner, Puyallup, Tacoma-Dome, S Tacoma (S Washington Ave between S 57th & 58th). Nearest transfer stations to Amtrak trains are in Tacoma-Dome Station and Seattle King Street Station. Additional connections to King County Metro and Pierce Transit buses are at each station. Check schedules as trains run only one way north in the mornings and one way south in the afternoons.
 * Operates the Sounder Train between King Street Station in downtown Seattle and Lakewood Station (south of Tacoma) via Tukwila, Kent Station, Auburn, Sumner, Puyallup, Tacoma-Dome, S Tacoma (S Washington Ave between S 57th & 58th). Nearest transfer stations to Amtrak trains are in Tacoma-Dome Station and Seattle King Street Station. Additional connections to King County Metro and Pierce Transit buses are at each station. Check schedules as trains run only one way north in the mornings and one way south in the afternoons.