| Spot A: Chamber of Commerce

Views: Great views of the RNT Boeing flightline, good runway action, and occasionally some Boeing parking right in front of the lot.

Directions: From I5, exit onto 405 North.  Follow 405 to exit 2 to WA-167N.  As you begin to pass the airport you’ll see a parking lot to your right.  Pull on in.

Security: No reason to think it is anything other than a private lot that is generally empty.  People come to watch planes fairly often, but treat it with respect.

Photography: Sometimes Boeing will park aircraft at the ramp right in front of the parking lot, and a wider angle around 24-70 will do.  Departures are best with a 70-200.  This spot is best from the afternoon and later into the day.

Notes: Share your Boeing photos on the NYCAviation forums! 😉

Some photos shot from this location:


Photo by Jeremy Lindgren

Photo by Jeremy Lindgren

| Spot B: Lakeside Park

Views: Not exactly sure if this is the name of the park, but it’ll do for now.  This is best for runway 15 arrivals, and for the beginning takeoff rolls for runway 15 as well.  Boeing planes will sometimes taxi past this spot.  Seaplanes will often tie up on the docks at the waters edge during the better months of the year.

Directions: From I5, exit onto 405 North.  Follow 405 to exit 2 to WA-167N.  Pass by most of the airport, turn right on S 117th, and turn left at the road’s end onto Perimeter Road.  Follow Perimeter Road to the park at the end.  Ladders are recommended for anything on the runway.

Security: It is a park, and there aren’t too many problems.

Photography: Everything from 10mm to 200mm can work here.  Runway shots are probably best suited with a 70-200mm.

Notes: N/A

Some photos shot from this location:


Photo by Jeremy Lindgren

Photo by Jeremy Lindgren

| Spot C: Riverside Park

Views: Not exactly sure if this is the name of the park, but it’ll do for now.  Best for runway 15 departures, you can catch the hillside in background.

Directions: From I5, exit onto 405 North.  Follow 405 to exit 2 to WA-167N.  Follow 167 to Airport Way S, and turn right.  Continue past the airport and bear left, then turn left into the stadium parking lot.

Security: It is a park, and there aren’t too many problems here, either.  As you can also walk right by the Boeing lots, though security in the area for Boeing will make sure you don’t go for any pictures of their planes.  They frown on it, so please respect that.

Photography: For runway action 100-300mm would be best for focal length, and this spot dies out quickly as the morning wears on.  By the afternoon it isn’t any good.  You do have to dodge obstacles as the aircraft rotate and climb.  Ladders are not needed.

Notes: N/A

Some photos shot from this location:


Photo by Jeremy Lindgren