Transportation and Lodging

Important Note:

June 2026 will be a busy time at the UW Seattle campus as students move out of residence halls and graduation celebrations take place across the University.

Another event taking place in Seattle that could impact your Commencement-related travel and lodging plans is the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If you are traveling to Seattle in June, we suggest booking your rooms and travel as early as possible.

Matches begin in Seattle on June 15, and we expect many hotels will be full, with prices higher than normal. Since the World Cup draws soccer fans from around the globe, Seattle-area hotels are expecting June bookings to ramp up during this time, and many are expected to sell out.

Travel options

Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion offers visitors a wide range of travel options and parking. Visit the UW Transportation webpage below to find the best route for you.

Public transportation

You can plan your trip to Alaska Airlines Arena using public transportation within King, Pierce or Snohomish counties using Metro’s Trip Planner.

Avoid traffic and parking by using Sound Transit light link rail. The closest light rail stop is the University of Washington station, which is only a five-minute walk from the Alaska Airlines Arena. For more details on the schedule and station locations, visit the Sound Transit website.

You may also contact the following public transportation organizations:

  • Sound Transit Regional Express Buses
  • Metro Transit (King County)
  • Community Transit (Snohomish County)
  • Pierce County Transit

Lodging

There are many fine hotels surrounding the University of Washington Bothell and Alaska Airlines Arena as well as in the Seattle area. For information on hotels, sightseeing and maps, please contact the organizations below:

Inviting international family members

International students who want to invite their family members to the United States should visit the International Student Services (ISS) website for basic guidelines.

Please contact ISS at uwbintl@uw.edu for further questions about the procedures.