College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 2 campuses

Washington and Seattle U in 2 Days: A Seattle College Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing the University of Washington and Seattle University in two days: a UW tour and information session on day 1, then Seattle U on day 2 before flying home from Sea-Tac. Official visit sign-ups, parking and light rail at each school, a hotel across the street from Seattle U, the Burke Museum for siblings, and Seattle weather by season.

Visitors walking under huge blossoming cherry trees on the brick paths of the Quad at the University of Washington
Cherry blossoms on the Quad, University of Washington, Seattle (Apr 2017). Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
University of Washington (Seattle, WA) · Seattle University (Seattle, WA)
Days
2: UW on day 1, Seattle U on day 2. Arrive the evening before.
Fly into
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), about 25 minutes from the hotel with no traffic. Both schools are reachable from the airport on Link light rail.
Best base
Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle - Broadway, which Seattle U calls the hotel closest to the university: a 5-minute walk to Seattle U and about 11 minutes by car to UW.
Car or transit
Either. A car is simplest, but UW has its own light rail stop and Seattle U says public transit is the preferred way to reach its campus.
Registration
Both schools take tour sign-ups online: UW's campus tours and Seattle U's daily campus tour and information session.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to compare two very different Seattle schools: the University of Washington, about 4 miles from downtown, and Seattle University, a Jesuit university on First Hill near Capitol Hill.

The two campuses are about 14 minutes apart by car with no traffic, so one hotel works for both. UW gets day 1; Seattle U is a short walk from the hotel on day 2, before you head back to the airport.

Why this order

  • Day 1: UW's student-led walking tour lasts about 75 minutes and covers about 1.4 miles, and a first-year information session runs about 30 minutes. Both start in the Husky Union Building (HUB).
  • Day 2: Seattle U's First Hill campus tour starts with a 30-minute information session; plan on about an hour and a half on campus. It runs on weekdays and select Saturdays.
  • UW says demonstrated interest isn't a factor in admission decisions, so a visit is about fit, not points.
Two campuses, two ways to park
  • UW: park in the Central Plaza Garage (entrance on 15th Ave. NE at NE 41st St.), or use PayByPhone in lots C02, C03 and C04, then walk to the HUB, room 106. Arrive 30 minutes early.
  • Seattle U: parking on the First Hill campus is complimentary for your visit, and Seattle U emails the details after you register. From the hotel, it's a 5-minute walk anyway.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Pack rain gear: UW suggests a hooded jacket or umbrella and comfortable shoes for its 1.4-mile tour, and January averages about 5.8 inches of precipitation at Sea-Tac. July is the driest month, with about 0.6 inches.
  • UW's Quad cherry trees usually bloom in March and April, one of the photo stops UW recommends.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. UW says the drive from Sea-Tac can take up to an hour in heavy traffic.

Arrival evening: fly into Sea-Tac and check in on First Hill

  1. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) → Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle - Broadway (1100 Broadway, Seattle)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~25 min, 14.5 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Link light rail north to Capitol Hill Station, then the Seattle Streetcar to the Broadway & Marion stop
  • Seattle U says Sea-Tac is about 15 miles south of campus, and the hotel sits on the corner of Broadway and Madison, across from Seattle U.

Day 1: University of Washington, then the Burke Museum

  1. Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle - Broadway → UW Central Plaza Garage (15th Ave. NE at NE 41st St.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~11 min, 4.9 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Streetcar to Capitol Hill Station, then Link light rail north to University of Washington Station; the HUB is about a 10-minute walk

  2. UW Husky Union Building → Burke Museum (4303 Memorial Way NE)

    Driving (no traffic)
    Walk
    Driving
    ~12 min walk, 0.6 mi

  3. UW → Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle - Broadway

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~13 min, 4.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Link light rail south to Capitol Hill Station, then the streetcar to Broadway & Marion
  • Reserve a campus tour on UW's sign-up calendar. Tours and first-year information sessions meet in HUB room 106; arrive 30 minutes early.
  • Residential life tours (45 minutes) and department information sessions need their own registrations, so book them on the same day if your student wants them.

Day 2: Seattle University, then fly home from Sea-Tac

  1. Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle - Broadway → Seattle University (901 12th Ave., Seattle)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~3 min, 0.5 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    ~5 min walk, 0.2 mi

  2. Seattle University → Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~25 min, 14.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Streetcar from Broadway & Marion to Capitol Hill Station or International District/Chinatown Station, then Link light rail south to SeaTac/Airport
  • Book the daily campus tour and information session on Seattle U's sign-up page. If it's full, you can join a waitlist, and Seattle U aims to tell you at least 72 hours before your visit date whether a spot is available.
  • Check out before your visit; Seattle U says to expect about an hour and a half on campus.

3. Campus by campus

Visitors walking under huge blossoming cherry trees on the brick paths of the Quad at the University of Washington
Cherry blossoms on the Quad, University of Washington, Seattle (Apr 2017). Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

Where visits start
  • UW's in-person tour is led by a current student and lasts about 75 minutes, covering about 1.4 miles past spots like the Liberal Arts Quad, Drumheller Fountain and Sylvan Grove. First-year information sessions run about 30 minutes.
  • Tours and information sessions meet in the Husky Union Building (HUB), room 106. UW also offers a self-guided tour and tours in Spanish on Fridays.
Visitor parking
  • Park in the Central Plaza Garage, entering on 15th Ave. NE at NE 41st St., or use PayByPhone in lots C02, C03 and C04.
  • The tour route can't offer mobility assistance, but a stair-free route is available. For disability accommodations, email visituw@uw.edu at least 10 days ahead.
Getting there
  • Link light rail's University of Washington station (by Husky Stadium) is about a 10-minute walk from the HUB and about a 45-minute ride from Sea-Tac. By car, UW is about 11 minutes from the Silver Cloud with no traffic.
What to know
  • UW's suggested photo stops include the Dubs statue at the HUB's northwest entrance, the Quad's cherry trees in March and April, and the Suzzallo Library reading room. The University Book Store is at 4326 University Way NE.
Contact
UW Office of Admissions visits: visituw@uw.edu.

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UW: Plan your visit · UW: Campus tours and information sessions

The Chapel of St. Ignatius and its reflecting pool under a bright blue sky on the Seattle University campus
Chapel of St. Ignatius, Seattle University (Jun 2008). Photo: SaintIggy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Seattle University (Seattle, WA)

Where visits start
  • The First Hill daily campus tour and information session runs on weekdays and select Saturdays. It begins with a 30-minute information session; expect about an hour and a half on campus.
  • Seattle U also offers a self-guided tour of the First Hill campus and 30-minute in-person meetings with an admissions counselor. Groups of three or more should submit a Group Visit form.
Visitor parking
  • Parking on the First Hill campus is complimentary for your visit; Seattle U emails parking and check-in details after you register.
  • From I-5, take the James Street exit, follow James Street to 12th Avenue, turn left onto 12th and then left onto East Marion Street.
Getting there
  • The Seattle Streetcar stops at Broadway & Marion, right by campus, and connects to Link light rail at Capitol Hill and International District/Chinatown stations. Seattle U says public transit is the preferred way to get to campus.
What to know
  • Seattle U's First Hill campus has gardens, the Chapel of St. Ignatius and the Japanese American Remembrance Garden, and it sits near the Capitol Hill neighborhood's food, coffee and music scene.
Contact
Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122; visit questions: 206-220-8040, visit@seattleu.edu.

Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Seattle U: Plan your visit · Seattle U: Travel information · Seattle U: Self-guided tours

4. Where to stay: two nights on First Hill, across from Seattle U

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickBudget

Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle - Broadway

1100 Broadway, Seattle, WA

Why here

  • Seattle U says it's the hotel closest to the university, on the corner of Broadway and Madison: about a 5-minute walk to Seattle U, 11 minutes by car to UW and 24 minutes to SEA with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Seattle U says the hotel's parking garage is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends, so plan late arrivals around that. Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Lake Union

925 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, WA

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 10 minutes from UW's Central Plaza Garage, 9 minutes from Seattle U and 26 minutes from SEA with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Seattle U lists the Courtyard Lake Union among the hotels offering a discount to its visiting guests. Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Graduate by Hilton Seattle

4507 Brooklyn Ave. NE, Seattle, WA

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's in the University District, about a 16-minute walk to UW's HUB, 12 minutes by car to Seattle U and 28 minutes to SEA with no traffic.

Good to know

  • A good choice if UW is your student's main focus. Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Two nights on First Hill put you across the street from Seattle U and about 11 minutes from UW by car. On day 2, check out, walk to your Seattle U visit and head to Sea-Tac from campus.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At and near UW

UW has two residential dining halls, a restaurant and more than 10 cafes on campus, and the nearby U District has plenty more.

At the Burke Museum

Off the Rez Café, at the Burke's entrance off Memorial Way, serves fry bread and other foods Tuesday through Sunday, with indoor and patio seating.

Near Seattle U

You can grab a bite on the First Hill campus, and Seattle U says there are dozens of student favorites within a few blocks. The Central District, Little Ethiopia, Little Saigon and the International District are within walking distance.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Burke Museum

4303 Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA

The museum on UW's campus focuses on dinosaurs, fossils, Northwest Native art and plant and animal collections, with working labs you can see into. It's closed Mondays and about a 12-minute walk from the HUB.

Official page →

With siblings

The UW Quad

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

UW's cherry trees on the Quad bloom in March and April, and the Dubs statue at the HUB's northwest entrance is a favorite photo stop.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving, parking and light rail

  • At UW, park in the Central Plaza Garage (15th Ave. NE at NE 41st St.). At Seattle U, parking is complimentary for your visit, with details emailed after you register.
  • Link light rail runs from SeaTac/Airport through Capitol Hill to the University of Washington station, so you can skip the car: UW says the ride from Sea-Tac is about 45 minutes, and the Seattle Streetcar links Capitol Hill Station to Seattle U.

Flying in and out

  • Sea-Tac is about 25 minutes from the hotel and from Seattle U with no traffic, but UW warns the drive can take up to an hour in heavy traffic.
  • Seattle U says Sea-Tac is about 15 miles south of campus, and King Street Station, if you arrive by train, is about 1.2 miles away.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 59°F highs and 43°F lows, with about 3.2 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 77°F highs and 57°F lows, with about 0.6 inches of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 61°F highs and 47°F lows, with about 3.9 inches of rain.
  • Winter: January averages about 48°F highs and 38°F lows, with about 5.8 inches of precipitation and 1.8 inches of snow.

Parent checklist

  • Register for both visits online: a UW campus tour on day 1 and Seattle U's daily campus tour and information session on day 2.
  • If your student wants a UW residence hall tour or department session, register for it separately.
  • Need accessibility help at UW? Email visituw@uw.edu at least 10 days before your visit.
  • Book two nights on First Hill and ask about Seattle U's visitor hotel discounts; fly in and out of SEA.
  • Pack comfortable shoes and rain gear for UW's 1.4-mile walking tour, and arrive 30 minutes early.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

2 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of Washington and Seattle University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of Washington
  5. University of Washington Athletics (official site)
  6. University of Washington Athletics: Compliance
  7. University of Washington Athletics: Staff Directory
  8. University of Washington Athletics: schedule of events
  9. NCAA Directory: Seattle University
  10. Seattle University Athletics (official site)
  11. Seattle University Athletics: Compliance
  12. Seattle University Athletics: Staff Directory
  13. Seattle University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

Plan this trip

Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.

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Sources

All checked Oct 28, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. University of Washington Office of Admissions: Visit
  2. University of Washington Office of Admissions: Campus tours (official sign-up)
  3. University of Washington Office of Admissions: Plan your visit
  4. University of Washington Office of Admissions: Campus tours and information sessions
  5. Seattle University Undergraduate Admissions: Visit
  6. Seattle University Admissions: Campus tour (official sign-up)
  7. Seattle University: Plan your visit
  8. Seattle University: Travel information
  9. Seattle University: Hotels for your visit
  10. Seattle University: Getting to Seattle University
  11. Seattle University: Our campuses
  12. Burke Museum: Hours & admissions
  13. Sound Transit: 1 Line
  14. Seattle University Admissions: Self-guided tours
  15. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  16. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  17. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  18. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, WA (USW00024233)
  19. Expedia listing: Silver Cloud Hotel - Seattle Broadway (star class, checked 2026-10-28) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Seattle-Hotels-Silver-Cloud-Hotel-Seattle-Broadway.h974101.Hotel-Information)
  20. Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown Lake Union (star class, checked 2026-10-28) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Seattle-Hotels-Courtyard-By-Marriott-Seattle-Downtown-Lake-Union.h202730.Hotel-Information)
  21. Expedia listing: Graduate by Hilton Seattle (star class, checked 2026-10-28) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Seattle-Hotels-Graduate-Seattle.h19023.Hotel-Information)