If you live in the Portland metro and have been wondering whether Everett, Washington is worth a weekend, June 10, 2026 changes the answer. That’s the day Alaska Airlines resumes daily nonstop service between Portland International (PDX) and Paine Field (PAE) — landing you 25 minutes north of downtown Everett at a small, walk-to-the-gate terminal that bypasses SeaTac entirely. This guide is the Everett itinerary the new route makes practical for the first time.
Why Paine Field is the right airport for an Everett trip
Most Pacific Northwest visitors arrive into SeaTac and immediately face a decision: drive 90 minutes north against I-5 traffic, or skip everything north of Seattle entirely. Paine Field changes that calculation. It is a small commercial terminal in Snohomish County that opened in March 2019, operated by Propeller Airports. There is no remote parking shuttle. There is no terminal-to-terminal monorail. You walk from the gate to the curb in roughly the time it takes to clear a single TSA line.
From the curb, a rideshare to downtown Everett is roughly 25 minutes. To the waterfront — about 30. To the AquaSox stadium at Funko Field — under 30.
The weekend itinerary the new nonstop makes possible
Friday evening — Land, drop, and walk to dinner. Land at Paine Field by early evening on Alaska’s daily PDX-PAE nonstop. Drop bags at a downtown Everett hotel, then walk to Hewitt Avenue. The dining stretch on Hewitt has rebuilt itself in 2026 — R Harn Thai opened earlier this year and is the right call for a first-night meal. Order the khao soi.
Saturday morning — Waterfront and Jetty Island. Drive 10 minutes to the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place — the redeveloped working waterfront with restaurant row, marina access, and the seasonal Jetty Island ferry. Jetty Island is a free 20-minute walk-on ferry to a two-mile sand spit in Possession Sound. Bring a windbreaker even in June.
Saturday afternoon — Funko HQ and downtown. Funko’s Everett headquarters sits in a converted historic downtown building and is open to visitors. The retail experience is unlike any other corporate flagship in the Pacific Northwest. Combine with a walk through the surrounding gallery district — the Everett Art Walk runs the third Thursday of each month if your trip aligns.
Saturday evening — AquaSox or Silvertips, in season. The Everett AquaSox play at Funko Field downtown (Mariners High-A affiliate, summer schedule) and the Everett Silvertips play at Angel of the Winds Arena (WHL major junior hockey, fall through spring playoffs). Either is a low-cost, high-energy minor-league experience you cannot reproduce in Portland.
Sunday — Boeing Future of Flight or a North Cascades day trip. The Boeing Future of Flight aviation museum sits adjacent to Paine Field — convenient to a Sunday departure. For a longer day, Everett is the gateway to Mukilteo, Whidbey Island via the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry, and the western foothills of the North Cascades. None of these are easy out of SeaTac.
Why this works as a weekend the previous schedule didn’t allow
Without a PAE-PDX nonstop, the Portland visitor’s only option for an Everett weekend has been to fly into SeaTac and drive 90+ minutes north. The drive eats Friday evening and most of Sunday morning. With the new daily Alaska nonstop, you can land in Everett by 6 PM on Friday and depart by mid-day on Sunday and not lose either bookend to airport time.
The June 10 launch lands during AquaSox season, before the worst summer Mukilteo ferry queues, and during the most active stretch of the Port of Everett’s outdoor programming.
Practical details for Portland-area visitors
- Airport: Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE), Everett, WA. Operated by Propeller Airports.
- Tickets: alaskaair.com
- Service start: June 10, 2026, daily.
- Rideshare to downtown Everett: ~25 minutes.
- Hotels: Downtown Everett options cluster around the Hewitt Avenue corridor and the waterfront.
Frequently asked questions for visitors
Is Paine Field a real commercial airport?
Yes. Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) opened its commercial terminal in March 2019. It is operated by Propeller Airports and serves Alaska Airlines and Avelo Airlines. After the June 10, 2026 Portland launch it will run 13 daily commercial departures across nine nonstop destinations.
How far is Paine Field from downtown Everett?
Roughly 25 minutes by rideshare. The terminal sits on the southwest edge of Everett near Mukilteo.
What is there to actually do in Everett for a weekend?
Waterfront Place at the Port of Everett, Jetty Island (seasonal ferry), Funko HQ in downtown, AquaSox baseball at Funko Field (summer) or Silvertips hockey at Angel of the Winds Arena (fall through spring), the Everett Art Walk on third Thursdays, and Boeing Future of Flight adjacent to Paine Field for a Sunday departure-day stop.
Do I need a rental car?
For a Friday-to-Sunday Everett-only itinerary, rideshare is enough. If you want to add Mukilteo, Whidbey Island via ferry, or any North Cascades day trip, rent a car at the airport.
What’s the closest hotel to Paine Field?
The airport area itself has limited lodging. Most visitors stay downtown Everett or near the waterfront — both are roughly 25-30 minutes from the terminal.