Important Note:
June 2026 will be a busy time at the UW, as students move out of residence halls and graduation celebrations – including Commencement on June 13 – 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 around this time. Since the World Cup draws soccer fans from around the globe, Seattle-area hotels are expecting June bookings to ramp up during the holidays. Many are expected to sell out during this time.
Link Light Rail and Metro Transit
Skip the traffic and arrive in style! Link Light Rail is now open at the University Washington and will drop you directly in front of Husky Stadium. To plan your trip via Link Light Rail or Metro visit Trip Planner. Light rail does connect to SeaTac airport.
Lodging
There are many hotels available close to the University of Washington and in the greater Seattle area.
Please be aware that many of the University’s schools, colleges, and departments have their own graduation events. These events generally (but not always) take place on or near the UW campus during the week before commencement.
Depending upon your plans, you may want to book lodging near campus or closer to downtown. The downtown core is approximately 7-10 miles from campus. The driving time is about 15-20 minutes.
Train Travel
Amtrak Reservations
Avoid the traffic and travel by train. Call Amtrak Reservations
800-872-7245
Airport Shuttle
ShuttleExpress
Do you need transportation from the airport? ShuttleExpress provides shuttle service to and from airport.
425-981-7000. Light rail also runs from the airport directly to Husky Stadium.