Overview
Auburn is a city in south King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington.
2 sights · 6 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Auburn
White River Valley Museum
The White River Valley Museum focuses on Native American history to the 1920s. They focus on the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and of pioneer life.
Neely Mansion
125-year-old mansion, National Historic Site from the Victorian Era.
Flaming Geyser State Park
The park was named for a flame which burned through a concrete basin, fueled by a methane gas pocket that was depleted by 2016. The wooded hiking and horse trails, playfields and places to view the fall salmon runs on th…
White River Amphitheatre
One of the larger outdoor concert venues in western Washington.
Muckleshoot Casino
Emerald Downs
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Kent)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 11 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 16 mi away. Directions
Nearest connections to Greyhound, Flixbus, and other intercity bus companies are in Seattle and the Tacoma Dome Station.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning White River Valley Museum, Muckleshoot Bingo, Imperial Palace Casino
- Lunch Legendary Doughnuts
- Afternoon Emerald Downs, Muckleshoot Casino
- Evening Rail Hop'n Brewing Co
Day 2
- Morning Flaming Geyser State Park
- Afternoon White River Amphitheatre
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
- State Route (SR) 18 serves as a major east-west freeway between I-5 (exit 142A) in Federal Way and I-90 (exit 25) near Snoqualmie. It goes through Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley and Issaquah in the east/southeastern regions of King County.
- Auburn Way S (SR-164) becomes Auburn-Enumclaw Hwy, outside the city, to connect Auburn to Enumclaw.
- Valley Freeway (SR-167) serves as the main north-south highway from I-405 (exit 2) in Renton to Puyallup through Kent, Auburn, and Sumner in the Kent Valley.
By train
- Sound Transit Sounder 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. Connections to King County Metro and Pierce Transit buses are at each station. Check schedules as trains only go north in the mornings, south in the afternoons and on Seattle Seahawks and Mariners game days. Check schedules.
By bus
Nearest connections to Greyhound, Flixbus, and other intercity bus companies are in Seattle and the Tacoma Dome Station.
By plane
The Auburn Municipal Airport (S50) (for general aviation only) is two miles north of the city.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), the nearest commercial airport to Auburn, is 9 mi away. Depending on traffic, you can go north on SR-167 to I-405 in Renton, and go west on I-405 which becomes SR-518 towards the airport. Or one can go west SR-18 to Federal Way and then north on I-5 to the I-450/SR-518 junction in Tukwila.
Get around
By car
By public transit
Auburn Station on A st & 2nd St SW in downtown Auburn is the transportation hub (bus station). The Auburn Station offers routes with King County Metro and Sound Transit service to Kent (160, 566); Enumclaw (915); Federal Way (181, 578); Kent (160, 566) Redmond (566); Bellevue (566); Renton (160, 566); Downtown Seattle (578); Puyallup (578); Algona/Pacific (917), and local service around town (181, 184, 915, 917).
Go King County Metro
Runs bus, streetcar and monorail routes within King County. Serves Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Vashon Island, White Center, and Woodinville.
Go Sound Transit
Runs express and intercity public transit routes across the Seattle area, including Sounder trains, Link light rail and express buses (routes 510-596). Serves King County (e.g. Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Seattle), Snohomish County (e.g. Everett, Lynnwood), and Pierce County (e.g. Puyallup, Tacoma).
- 566 Redmond, Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Auburn on SR-167, I-405 & SR-520.
- 578 Downtown Seattle, Federal Way, Auburn and Puyallup
- Pierce Transit 497 to Lakeland Hills
See
Do
Gambling
The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation lies just southeast of the city.
Buy
Shop Lakeland Town Center
Haggen's Supermarket, Hops n Drops, Legendary Doughnuts, Ichi Teriyaki, McDonald's, Puerto Vallarta Restaurant, Pet Pro, Orange Theory Fitness, Rock Wood Fired Pizza, Sushi Konami, Starbucks, UPS Store, etc. There are additional stores and restaurants on the other side of Lakeland Hills Way SE from the mall.
Eat
Eat Legendary Doughnuts
The first location of this small local chain. Will close early once sold out. Delivery available.
Drink
Drink Rail Hop'n Brewing Co
Auburns original microbrewer. In the heart of downtown Auburn. Their new facility has espresso and appetizers too.
Sleep
Nearby
Kent
City / town · 15 listings · 6 mi away
Federal Way
City / town · 35 listings · 6 mi away
Fife
City / town · 7 listings · 8 mi away
Puyallup
City / town · 13 listings · 9 mi away
SeaTac
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
Tacoma
City / town · 104 listings · 12 mi away
Tukwila
City / town · 24 listings · 12 mi away
Renton
City / town · 47 listings · 13 mi away
My experience
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