Best Way to Track Seattle Bus Arrival Times in 2026

Pretty simple question, right? When's the bus coming? Seattle has a handful of ways to get that answer, some obvious and some that fly under the radar. I've used all of them at various points, so here's what actually works, what doesn't, and when each one earns its keep. This should be helpful even if you never buy anything from us.

OneBusAway app

The best option for real-time data, period. OneBusAway pulls directly from King County Metro and Sound Transit, same data feeds that power the big electronic signs at transit centers. You get per-stop arrivals, you can save your favorites, and it costs nothing. A lot of Seattle riders won't use anything else.

One thing to watch for: if you see "Schedule Only" next to a bus, that means there's no live GPS tracking on it. The time you're seeing is just the printed schedule, not reality. And ghost buses love hiding behind that label. Beyond that, for stop-level real-time info it's the gold standard around here. Main downside: the UI looks like it was designed in 2013 (because it probably was), and you still have to pick up your phone every single time.

Google Maps

Great for routing. Tell it where you are and where you're going, get transit directions with transfers and walking segments all mapped out. You can also use King County Metro's trip planner or Sound Transit's schedules page for similar planning. Google is most people's default and for figuring out a new route, it's genuinely excellent.

Where it comes up short: real-time accuracy. It doesn't clearly tell you whether the times are live GPS predictions or just the static schedule. For a quick "when's my bus" check at your usual stop, there are better tools. But it's free, it's on your phone already, and for trip planning it's tough to beat.

Station signs at major stops

The big electronic displays at transit centers and busy stops like Westlake, UW, and various downtown locations. These are excellent. Real-time, dead simple to read, no phone involved. If you're already standing at one of these stops, just look up.

The obvious catch: they only help you when you're physically there. Completely useless for figuring out when to leave your apartment. For the "I'm already at the stop, when's the next one?" scenario, they're perfect. For everything leading up to that moment, they can't help you.

Text-to-get-times

Old school but still kicking. Text your stop ID to OneBusAway's SMS number and you get arrival times texted back. Works without a smartphone, which is its whole selling point. If you've got a flip phone, spotty data, or you simply don't want another app on your phone, it gets the job done.

Downside: you need to memorize (or write down) your stop ID, and the response comes back as a wall of text that takes a second to parse. Not exactly elegant, but it's reliable and accessible to pretty much everyone.

NextStop Mini: always visible at home

Full transparency, I made this. NextStop Mini is a small display that lives by your door or on your desk. Shows real-time arrivals for your favorite stops, all the time, without you having to do anything. Glance at it and you know when to walk out.

It's built for people with a regular commute who hit the same stops every day. If you're constantly switching routes or planning trips on the go, an app is your better bet. But if you have a predictable routine and the phone-checking cycle before leaving home is driving you crazy, a dedicated display might be the thing that fixes it. Available in the shop.

Bottom line

There's no single best method and anyone who tells you otherwise is oversimplifying. OneBusAway for real-time at your usual stop. Google Maps for planning a trip to somewhere new. The electronic signs when you're already standing there. Text when you don't want to deal with an app at all. A dedicated display if you check the same stops from home day after day. Just use whatever matches how you actually ride.

— Nikita