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Getting Here

Map

The Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering and the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering are located across from one another on E Stevens Way NE, the main UW campus loop road.

  • Paul G. Allen Center location on the UW campus map here
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Center location on the UW campus map here
  • Locate specific rooms in the public directory

Driving Directions

Below are directions for driving. We also have directions for visiting the department using public transportation. (From downtown Seattle, this is probably easier than driving.)

Those driving to campus may find one of these interactive maps with driving directions to be more useful than the purely text instructions below: Bing Maps, Google Maps.  

See UW Campus Map, with Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering highlighted, and the UW’s information on guest and visitor parking.

From the Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond)

  1. Take I-520 west, across the Lake Washington floating bridge, towards Seattle.
  2. On the Seattle side, take the second exit, “Montlake.”
  3. At the end of the exit, go right onto Montlake Avenue; you’ll be heading north.
  4. Proceed across the Montlake Bridge, a cute little lift bridge crossing the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
  5. Immediately after the bridge, you’ll come to a major intersection. You’ll see the UW football stadium ahead on the right, and the UW Medical Center on your left. After passing the stadium, continue northbound on Montlake Blvd. but make your way to the left lane.  The main campus will now be on your left, with a big parking lot on your right.
  6. Near the north end of the parking lot, there will be a soft left marked 25th Ave NE as Montlake veers to the right.  Take the soft left onto 25th. 
  7. Drive north 500 feet to a stop light with a left turn lane.  Turn left onto Pend Oreille Road NE.  Follow this road onto campus, across a pedestrian/bicycle trail crossing (The Burke-Gillman Trail) and up the hill to the gatehouse.
  8. Tell the attendant you’re looking for the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering. Pay the attendant, ask for a campus map, and park.

From the South (Portland, Tacoma, SeaTac Airport, Downtown Seattle)

  1. Proceed north on I-5. Pass through downtown Seattle. Avoid the “Express Lanes.” As you head across the Lake Washington Ship Canal bridge, move to the right hand lane, and exit on NE 45th Street — the first exit north of the Ship Canal.
  2. Take a right (east) on NE 45th Street. NE 45th is frustratingly slow, but you’ll only have to go a few blocks.
  3. You’ll cross a bewildering assortment of streets: 7th, 8th, and 9th Avenues NE; Roosevelt Way NE; 11th and 12th Avenues NE, University Way NE, and finally 15th Avenue NE.  After crossing 15th, the campus is on your right.  Take the next right and pull up to the gatehouse.
  4. Tell the attendant you’re looking for the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering.  Pay the attendant, ask for a campus map, and park.

From the North (Vancouver BC)

  1. Proceed south on I-5.
  2. Take the NE 45th Street exit, about two miles north of downtown Seattle. (It’s actually an exit for both NE 50th Street and NE 45th Street; take the NE 45th Street option.)
  3. At NE 45th Street, turn left (east). NE 45th is frustratingly slow, but you’ll only have to go a few blocks.
  4. You’ll cross a bewildering assortment of streets: 7th, 8th, and 9th Avenues NE; Roosevelt Way NE; 11th and 12th Avenues NE, University Way NE and finally 15th Avenue NE.  After crossing 15th, the campus is on your right.  Take the next right and pull up to the gatehouse.
  5. Tell the attendant you’re looking for the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering.  Pay the attendant, ask for a campus map, and park.

Parking @ UW

Parking permits are required for on campus parking Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon. Daily permits can be purchased at any of the parking gatehouses at each entrance to campus. Gatehouse staff accept Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express and are happy to assign a parking lot for the day based on availability, your destination and any special needs. They can also help with campus maps, directions, accessible parking and building information.

If you are familiar with the campus, you may want to use self-serve parking instead. Be aware that event rates may affect parking cost and availability Follow this link for more information on the PayByPhone program and which lots on campus are eligible. For more detailed information, please visit: https://transportation.uw.edu/park Parking fees are not refundable.

Public Transportation Directions

Here are some directions for visiting the Department by public transit. Also see Sound Transit and King County Metro Online for schedules, maps, and a trip planner, and CSE’s own OneBusAway program for real-time transit arrival information.

From Downtown Seattle

The quickest way to reach campus from downtown Seattle is via Sound Transit’s Link light rail service. Find the nearest entrance to the transit tunnel. Take Link northbound towards the University of Washington from any tunnel station. The adult one-way fare is $3.00; proof of payment is required before boarding, so you should buy a ticket in advance from a vending machine or, if you have an ORCA pass, tap one of the card readers available inside the station before boarding. (Fares do change; check Link fares for up-to-date fare information.)

Get off at the University of Washington station. When you exit the station, you can take the pedestrian overpass across Montlake Boulevard and walk up Rainier Vista toward E Stevens Way NE (you will see Drumheller Fountain straight ahead). Turn right at E Stevens Way NE. If you are looking for the Allen Center, the building will be on the left, just past Sylvan Grove at the corner of E Stevens Way NE and Benton Lane NE. (Map with Allen Center marked.) If you are headed to the Gates Center, the building will be on your right, directly across the street from the Allen Center on the east side of E Stevens Way NE. (Map with Gates Center marked.) The main entrance to the Gates Center is on the side of the building facing Snohomish Lane.

From SeaTac Airport

To and from SeaTac Airport, also use the “Link” light rail service.

From King Street Station (Amtrak and Sounder Commuter Train)

Go to the International District transit tunnel station (about a block). To get there, take the pedestrian bridge that goes over the tracks (heading east, away from the waterfront). Go by Union Station (a former train station, now offices), and continue east to the International District station. Proceed as above.

From the East Side and Elsewhere

Try the public transit trip planner on Google maps, or the Metro or Sound Transit trip planners, or see the University District Bus Routes page. If you find a bus that goes onto the campus, get off at the HUB bus stop; this is very close to the Allen Center.

A couple of relevant routes from the East Side are 242 and 545 ST Express from around Microsoft and Overlake, and 271 from Bellevue Transit Center. For the 242 and 545 ST Express you have to get off at the Montlake Station and walk to campus (ten minutes), or transfer to a local bus going to campus. The 271 goes on 15th Ave, bordering the campus.

Accommodations

Visitors requiring overnight accommodations will find the hotels listed below located conveniently near campus.

  • Hotel Deca 4507 Brooklyn Avenue N.E. Seattle, WA 98105 (800) 899-0251 (206) 634-2000
  • University Inn 4140 Roosevelt Way N.E. Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 632-5055 FAX: (206) 547-4937
  • Watertown Hotel 4242 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98105 (866) 944-4242 (206) 826-4242 FAX: (206) 315-4242
  • Silver Cloud Inn 5036 25th Avenue N.E. Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 526-5200 FAX: (206) 522-1450
  • University Travelodge 4725 25th Avenue N.E. Seattle, WA 98105 (800) 578-7878 (206) 525-4612 FAX: (206) 524-9106
  • A vacation rental could be a hotel alternative, particularly for a longer stay. Search FlipKey.com or VRBO.com for rentals in Seattle.