Ring in the new year fare-free in Seattle and beyond with these transit options

Whether you’re planning to say goodbye to 2025 at a bar with friends, or revel under fireworks at the Space Needle, King County Metro is reminding people they can ride transit for free on New Year's Eve.

You can leave your fare cards at home as you head out to greet the new year. King County Metro and Sound Transit express buses are free to riders through 3 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Riders taking Community Transit in Snohomish County, Everett Transit, and Pierce are also operating fare-free through New Year’s Eve.

Sound Transit is also extending service on the 1 Link light rail line between Lynwood and Federal Way Wednesday night, with trains operating every 15 minutes during late-night service that also runs until 3 a.m. The last southbound trip will leave Lynnwood Station at 2:01 a.m., and the last northbound train will leave the Federal Way Downtown Station at 1:55 a.m.

Service will not be extended on the 2 Line, so partiers on the east side should plan ahead. The last southbound trip from the Downtown Redmond station will leave at 9:30 p.m., and the last northbound train will depart from the station at 9:32 p.m.

The King County Water Taxi will operate fare-free Wednesday as well, but the Vashon and West Seattle routes will be out of service on New Year’s Day.

If you’re planning to catch the monorail to watch the fireworks at the Space Needle, you will need to pack some cash, or your ORCA card. The monorail will be collecting regular fare, and will run from the Seattle Center to Westlake from 12:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Bus and rail services will begin collecting fares again on Thursday, Jan. 1, and will operate on a Sunday schedule for New Year's Day.