Driving Directions

Please note that ongoing construction on I-5 around the City Center exits frequently changes the best route to campus. We advise checking your route with a mapping app before you leave to find the best route.

From I-5 Northbound (coming from Lakewood or Olympia): Take Exit 132 to SR16/S. 38th Street and stay in the righthand lane. Just before the exit curves to join SR16, take the righthand ramp marked “I-5/Downtown Tacoma”. Stay in that lane to reach the exit for I-705/City Center. From I-705 take the South 21st Street exit. Turn left at the traffic light onto 21st Street. Go through the light at Pacific Avenue and the campus will be on your right.

From I-5 Southbound (coming from Federal Way or Seattle): Take Exit 135 to Portland Avenue and stay to the right. Turn right onto Portland Avenue. Then after the next light, turn left to merge onto SR509 to City Center. Continue through the light at Pacific Avenue and the campus will be on your right.

Transit Options

UW Tacoma is directly served by three transit agencies.

• Pierce Transit serves communities throughout Pierce County, South King County, and Olympia. For route information contact them at 800-562-8109 or www.piercetransit.org. Bus Lines: 1, 3
• Sound Transit provides direct service to downtown Seattle, UW Seattle, Puyallup and Lakewood. For route information contact them at 800-889-6368 or www.soundtransit.org.
• Intercity Transit runs express service between Tacoma and Downtown Olympia. Currently, Intercity Transit does NOTaccept the U-PASS as a form of payment. For more information about Intercity Transit service and the U-PASS program please click here.