Engineering geeks, rejoice! Travelers, celebrate! And flight enthusiasts, grab a number because the Boeing Factory is open and welcoming visitors! So long as you’re fascinated by the skies and count down the days until your next jetsetting adventure, this Washington-based attraction is ready to deliver a memorable and informative experience that you’ll be blabbing about to your friends for months on end.
Regardless of whether you’re a window seat person or an aisle seat person, a great time is guaranteed at the Boeing Factory outside of Seattle.
Throughout this piece, we’ll outline everything you need to know about visiting the Boeing Factory and answer all the common questions, allowing you to best plan your upcoming visit and save a few bucks along the way. Those questions include:
- What will I see during the Boeing Factory tour?
- How much does the Boeing Factory Tour cost?
- How can I book the Boeing Factory Tour online?
- Hong long does the Boeing Factory Tour last?
- How far is the Boeing factory from Seattle?
- What is the busiest time to visit? How can I avoid the crowd?
- What are the opening hours at the Boeing factory?
- How do I get there from downtown Seattle? Is there a hotel pick-up included?
- What are Seattle’s other must-see attractions?
- Travel tips
Don’t feel like reading ahead? Then click here to compare all the tour options, package deals, and best prices – you could save upward of 25%! If you’re hoping for discounted tickets then you’re in the right place.
What will I see during the Boeing Factory Tour?
As the state’s premier aviation attraction, the Boeing Factory at Future of Flight welcomes flight and engineering enthusiasts from all over the globe – it’s the only place in America that allows you to go behind the scenes into the intricate world of airplane assembly.
It may come as a surprise to learn that, by volume, the Boeing Factory is officially the largest building in the world! Within its walls, while overlooking the factory floor from the balcony, you’ll be blessed with the rare opportunity to admire the 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliners on the assembly line before they take their first flight.
The tour itself is lead by a staff member who will walk you through the factory, firing fascinating tidbits of information and history in every direction. Outside of the guided tour, guests have the opportunity to browse the Future of Flight area, strolling through the Gallery Exhibits, Sky Deck, and Boeing store, as follows:
Gallery Exhibits
In the nearly-12 decades since the Wright brothers famously took flight in 1903, the aviation industry has witnessed innovation after innovation, with aircraft consistently soaring to new heights. For an experience both engaging and informative about the history and future of flight, you can’t go past the Boeing Gallery.
Near to 150 past, current and future Boeing products and services are detailed throughout the Gallery, including our personal favorite: the Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV) – otherwise known as your personal flying car!
Make sure to check out the immersive simulations at the Above and Beyond exhibit, and snap a selfie with the Destiny Module from the International Space Station.
Sky Deck
The open-air Sky Deck offers sweeping views of Paine Field, the factory (which, remember, is the world’s largest building), as well as the enchanting North Cascade Mountains in the distance.
Boeing store
When all’s said and done, grab a souvenir sweatshirt, a pair of comfy airplane slippers, a rare aviation collectible, or a scale model jet from the on-site store. You can even nab your very own pair of wings – a pin just like the one that the pilots wear!
How much does the Boeing Factory tour cost?
Boeing Factory Tour
It includes access to the Gallery and Sky Deck.
Adult (age 16+) – $27
Youth (age under 16) – $17*
Senior (age 65+) – $25
Military (with ID) – $22
Boeing Employee (with ID) – $12
Group Adult (15 patrons or more) – $25
Group Youth (15 patrons or more) – $15
*Children under 4 feet (122 cm) tall are not allowed on tour.
Gallery and Sky Deck access only
It does not include Boeing Factory Tour.
Adult (age 16+) – $12
Youth (age 6–15) – $6*
Senior (age 65+) – $10
Military (with ID) – $10
Boeing Employee (with ID) – $10
*Children under the age of 6 can explore the Gallery and Sky Deck free of charge.
The above prices were taken directly from the Boeing Factory website and do not include the transport from Seattle downtown.
To compare all of the discounted opportunities available, have a look at TourScanner instead! TourScanner takes all of the deals offered by travel agents and tour companies and condenses them into one simple webpage, allowing you to find the cheapest ticket with just a couple of clicks.
How can I book the Boeing Factory tour online?
Most eager visitors’ first thought is to head straight to the company website. Unfortunately, the Boeing Factory website doesn’t offer any discounted deals, multi-attraction packages, or trips which include transport to and from Seattle.
The most convenient way to assess all of the available options is to have a quick scroll through the Boeing Factory tours on TourScanner. Besides nailing discounts of up to 30%, you can eliminate the hassle and time it takes to scour through the hoards of online competing tour agencies.
TourScanner compares all the deals available online for thousands of amazing attractions around the world, including, of course, the Boeing Factory. Take a look!
Hong long does the Boeing Factory tour last?
All of the guided Factory tours are conducted in English and last for approximately 90 minutes. Before or after the guided tour, you are free to roam around the various flight galleries, Sky Deck, cafe, and souvenir shop until your heart’s content.
What is the busiest time to visit? How can I avoid the crowd?
According to the official website, weekends and the summer months – June until September – tend to draw in the larger crowds. This timeframe applies not only to the Boeing Factory but to all of Seattle’s popular attractions, including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Pike Place Market.
To avoid the Boeing crowds, it’s advised to plan your visit earlier in the mornings and later in the afternoons, during off-peak times.
How far is the Boeing factory from Seattle?
Boeing Future of Flight and the Boeing Factory sit about 25 miles north of Seattle in the town of Mukilteo, Washington – just south of Everett. If driving from Downtown Seattle, expect the journey to take between 30 and 40 minutes without significant traffic.
Boeing Future of Flight recommends arriving 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time (because they won’t wait if you’re late!). Keep this in mind when mapping out your route.
What are the opening hours at the Boeing Factory?
Year-round, the Boeing facility is open daily from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm, with timeslots for guided factory tours available between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.
During the busier peak season, which is classified as between May 22nd and September 7th, the facility hours are extended from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm, with guided tours operating from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm.
In regular circumstances, the attraction remains open throughout the calendar year, besides the major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day).
Note: Because booking availability has changed in 2020 due to the coronavirus, it’s important to double-check availability before planning a trip around a visit to this fantastic attraction.
How do I get to the Boeing Factory from downtown Seattle? Is there a hotel pick-up included?
For those lucky enough to call the Emerald City home, making the journey from Seattle up to the Boeing facility in your own car presents as one of the easier options. If you’re a tourist camped downtown, reliant on public transportation and/or rideshare, then we have a solution! Read on…
With your own car
Take the Interstate Route 5 northbound until and merge onto the State Route 525 northbound en route to the quaint seaside town of Mukilteo. Type “8415 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA 98275” into the GPS and let technology do the rest!
By public transport
While we wouldn’t recommend this option, it remains technically possible. The route from Downtown Seattle requires catching two busses and adds up to roughly two hours of travel time, each way. Pass.
Our recommendation: Get picked up from your hotel!
A number of the Boeing Factory package deals include pickup and dropoff. When tallying the costs of individual car rental, gas, insurance, and parking; a hassle-free included pickup advertises itself as a clear best option.
What are Seattle’s other must-see attractions?
New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco tend to attract the bulk of the tourist-centric attention; solely to the detriment of any USA traveler would be to overlook the Pacific Northwest! Nearby Portland is booming with art and culture, Mount Rainier National Park boasts one of the highest peaks in the country, and Seattle plays host to world-leading technology.
After ticking the Boeing Factory Tour off the bucket list, don’t forget to stop in at a few of our other favorite Seattle attractions:
The Space Needle
Initially built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the Space Needle remains an icon of the city to this day. As you stand atop its 160-meter-high viewing platform, snap a sky-high selfie or two with the city and the sparkling Puget Sound as your backdrop.
Pike Place Market
An undisputed symbol of Seattle, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ markets in the entire country. For over 110 years, vendors offering everything from fish to pastries, desserts, fruit, and arts and crafts have lined the streets.
Whether you’re hungry or not, the vibrant atmosphere alone warrants a visit.
A number of food-and-culture-focused walking tours take you through the market. Compare them all right here!
Embark on a brewery tour!
We all know about the Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Aquarium, and the Puget whale-watching boat tours, but for something a little more unique to the city’s culture, why not join one of the many impressive brewery tours?
Seattle is one of the nation’s premier cities for craft breweries. Sip an IPA, sample a local stout, or down a couple of traditional lagers on one of the many captivating brewery tours (tastings included, of course).
Follow this link to whet your whistle on one of Seattle’s famous brewery tours.
Travel tips
- Visit during the week! Not only are midweek tours usually less busy, but there is also far more to see. Employees (except those on essential services or overtime) do not work on the weekends. Wouldn’t you rather see the engineers in action, moving giant pieces of aircraft around the factory floor?
- Buy tickets early! Tickets for the Boeing Tour sell out rather quickly. Visitors can opt to buy tickets at the door, however, it’s a risk. Since we wouldn’t want you to get all the way to the factory only to be turned away, lock in your visit to the Boeing Future of Flight ahead of time.
- Arrive early! It says, clear as day, on the company website that, “If guests do not arrive promptly for their scheduled tour, the reservation will be forfeited.” Even if you’re an hour or more early, that’s plenty of time to explore the galleries and souvenir shop.
So, what are you waiting for? The sky’s the limit, so book your Boeing Factory tickets today!