Seattle/University District

The University District, or "U-District", surrounds the University of Washington in northeast Seattle. It's centered on University Way Northeast, which all the locals call "The Ave".

Surrounding neighborhoods include Ravenna to the north and Laurelhurst to the east. Largely residential, their attractions are included here.

By car
Interstate 5 By car, take the NE 45th-50th Streets (Exit 169) and from the NE Ravenna Blvd (Exit 170) exits from I-5, or head north from the Montlake Blvd. exit on SR-520. Parking on the campus is very expensive, up to $15 per day, although it's free after noon on Saturdays and all day Sundays. The vast E-1 lot east of campus on Montlake Blvd is a relative bargain at $7, but without a university ID, you'll have to pay in all quarters! Street parking is more plentiful further away from the campus.

to From WA Hwy 520 take the Montlake Blvd NE (WA Hwy 513) exit which goes north into the eastside of the University of Washington Campus by UW Medical Center and the Huskies Stadium (football stadium). Going south Mountlake Blvd NE become 24th Ave NE into the Capitol Hill/Central District neighborhoods. Going east-west WA Hwy 520 connects I-5 in Seattle to I-405 between Bellevue and Kirkland. It continues northeast of I-405 to its terminus in Redmond. There is a toll to go across the floating bridge over Lake Washington in both directions. Toll collection is automated by the pre-paid/loaded 'Good to Go' pass on the windshields of the passing vehicles or by taking pictures of the license plates (front and back) and then mailing the toll bill to the registered owner. There are no toll booths to collect cash payments.

By public transit
Link light rail is the fastest way to get to the area from central and southern Seattle, making its way under Capitol Hill to Downtown in less than ten minutes, and out to the airport in about 45 minutes. The station is at the southern end of campus, next to the football stadium at Montlake Blvd and Pacific Street. King County Metro runs numerous bus routes to many outlying neighborhoods. Use routes 48 and 49 to Capitol Hill, 31/32 to Fremont, 44 to Ballard, 45 to Greenwood and Lake Union, 48 to the Central District, 67 to Northgate, 65 to Wedgewood, 372 to Lake City, and 75 to Sand Point. From University Ave routes 45, 71, 73, and 373 travel to the Link Station making connections easy. The campus has excellent and wide-ranging commuter bus services with Sound Transit (to eastside (542, 556) and Tacoma (586)); Community Transit  (to Snohomish County from the Link Light Rail at Northgate Station); and King County Metro to the eastside suburbs & cities of Issaquah via Bellevue (271) and Kirkland (255).The public transportation hubs (bus stations) in the U-District are the on Montlake Blvd NE & Pacific by Huskies Stadium & UW Hospital; and  along Brooklyn Ave (The 'Ave') between NE 43rd & 45th. Additional bus-stops/bays for this station are on University Way on NE 43rd and on NE 45th between Brooklyn Ave and University Way NE. Further north there are the on Roosevelt Way (SB)/12th Ave NE (NB) & NE 65th in Ravenna, near Green Lake and in  for additional connections to buses going north as a number of routes to the U-District and/or downtown from the north have been truncated since 2020-2022. All the stations are served by the Link Light Rail.

See


The UW campus has a number of notable museums and buildings which are open to the public.

Eat
As can be expected of a college neighborhood, there are plenty of inexpensive places to eat in the U-District.

Mid-range




Stay safe
The U-District isn't an entirely safe place late at night. If you find yourself walking down the Ave (University Way) at late hours, there will typically be fewer people loitering on the east side of the street. The number of panhandlers and "Ave Rats", as the homeless teen population is referred to, increases as you travel northbound, particularly past NE 45th St. The University campus is considered pretty safe. Seattle is, however, a very tame city, and the Ave Rats tend to be harmless runaways more interested in spare change and each other than anything else. Indeed, the large student population of the neighborhood allows them to 'blend in' and escape in the neighborhood in a way they cannot anywhere else in the state: don't bother them and they won't bother you.

There have been increased incidents in the area east of "The Ave." between 45th and 65th where the student housing is. While walking late at night is still generally safe, it is better to walk in groups and to avoid poorly lit streets if possible.

If you are visibly female and have to walk at night, try avoiding "The Ave" from about 47th to 52nd because for some strange reason, women tend to be harassed more frequently on this stretch of "The Ave" than on other parts. It is recommended to head west and go down Brooklyn, but even as far as Roosevelt Way and then go back to "The Ave" if you can. If you are heading north, stay on the right side of Roosevelt: there is better lighting. The U District is still safer than most parts of the country at night, but precautions are always a good thing.

Connect
Public internet access is hard to find on the UW campus &mdash; although it has blanket wireless coverage, a university login is required. Consider trying the thicket of coffee shops surrounding the campus or the Seattle Public Library branches in: