The University of Washington’s Seattle campus is a large campus destination with outdoor landmarks, student-led tours and self-guided highlights. You can plan a walking visit around the Quad, Drumheller Fountain and other campus stops, then choose transit or driving based on your plans.
- Location: Seattle, Washington
- Guided tour: 75 minutes on foot, covering about 1.4 miles
- Tour options: student-led, self-guided, virtual and video tours
- Parking: permits are required during designated weekday and Saturday hours
Choosing a campus route
The University of Washington’s self-guided highlights guide points you to the Quad, Suzzallo Library and Husky Stadium. It’s a useful starting point if you want to see key campus locations at your own pace.
For a guided walk, the official student-led campus tour lasts 75 minutes and covers about 1.4 miles. The route visits upper-campus sites including the Liberal Arts Quadrangle, Drumheller Fountain and Sylvan Grove. Register through the Office of Admissions tour calendar; if a guided tour doesn’t fit your plans, the university also offers a self-guided tour.
If you’re deciding between a set route and a flexible visit, use the tour’s listed stops to shape your own walk. The university’s visitor resources also include accessibility information, which can help you plan the route around your needs.
Landmarks and outdoor spaces to see
The Quad, Drumheller Fountain and Sylvan Grove give you several outdoor stops to work into a campus walk. The Quad and Suzzallo Library are also included in the university’s self-guided highlights guide, while Drumheller Fountain and Sylvan Grove feature on the student-led tour.
Husky Stadium is another landmark on the self-guided guide. It also sits beside the UW Link light-rail station, making it a practical arrival point if you’re taking the train.
Campus visits can include more than outdoor sights. The UW Visitor Center names the Henry Art Gallery, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Burke Museum and Meany Hall among campus arts and cultural destinations. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is one of those destinations.
Campus tours and visitor information
The University of Washington offers in-person, self-guided and virtual ways to get an overview of campus. Student-led walking tours cover upper-campus sites, while the self-guided option works for visitors who can’t attend a guided tour.
The Office of Admissions also offers virtual and video tours covering the general campus, libraries, housing and dining, Husky Stadium, and the Indigenous Walking Tour. Check the tour calendar to register for a campus tour.
The UW Visitor Center is at Odegaard Library, 022 Odegaard, Seattle, WA 98195-5502. Its office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and it is closed on UW holidays. You can call 206-543-9198 or email uwvic@uw.edu with visitor questions.
How do you get to the University of Washington campus?
You can reach campus by bus, light rail or car. More than 60 bus routes serve the University District, including routes with stops on campus; the University District Farmers Market is also in the district.
The UW Link light-rail station is at Husky Stadium. From the station, allow about 15 minutes to walk to the Visitor Center. The light-rail ride from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to the campus stop takes about 45 minutes.
If you’re driving via I-5, the UW directs visitors to exit 169 for NE 45th Street and cautions against using the I-5 express lanes. The university recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before your visit to park and find your destination.
What should you know about visitor parking?
Visitor parking permits are required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.–9 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a.m.–noon. Weekday daytime parking costs $5 per hour or $21 per day, with $2.50 for up to 30 minutes. Weekday 4–9 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.–noon parking costs $7 per day, except at Central Plaza Garage, where the rate is $14 per day.
Event rates may affect parking costs and availability. The UW says spaces are limited and encourages visitors to consider carpooling, mass transit and other alternatives to driving alone. You can pay through PayByPhone or pay machines in visitor lots; parking fees are nonrefundable.
Parking rates, rules and availability can change, so check the official site before you go. The campus is about 14 minutes by car from Crown Inn, a Seattle motel near the University of Washington.
FAQs
How long is the University of Washington campus tour?
The official student-led walking tour lasts 75 minutes and covers about 1.4 miles.
Can you tour the University of Washington without joining a group?
Yes. The university offers a self-guided tour, and its highlights guide includes the Quad, Suzzallo Library and Husky Stadium.
Does light rail serve the University of Washington?
Yes. The UW Link light-rail station is at Husky Stadium, about a 15-minute walk from the Visitor Center.
When do visitors need a parking permit?
Permits are required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.–9 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a.m.–noon. Event rates may affect costs and availability.