FPSAC 2026 University of Washington

Local Information

Conference: Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 17, 2026 (with reception Sunday, July 12)

Traveling to Seattle

  • Sea-Tac International Airport serves Seattle and is about 30 minutes from campus by car (during heavy traffic, this may take up to an hour) or about 50 minutes by light rail.

Public transit to UW’s Kane Hall

  • Campus map showing Kane Hall and Google Maps for Kane Hall.
  • By lightrail: The Link light rail stops at Husky Stadium and the University of Washington station. It is a 50-minute ride from Sea-Tac International Airport to UW, and a 10–15-minute walk from either station to Kane Hall.
  • By bus: There are more than 60 bus routes that serve the University District, including many with stops right on campus.

Driving to UW

From Interstate 5 (I-5), northbound or southbound:

  • Important: Do not use the I-5 express lanes. (These will bypass the correct highway exit.)
  • Take exit 169 (NE 45th St.) toward NE 45th St.
  • Turn east on NE 45th St.
  • Turn right on 15th Ave. NE and continue to NE 41st St. The entrance to the Central Plaza Parking Garage is on the left.

From the east side of Lake Washington via SR 520 (toll bridge):

  • Take SR 520 westbound toward Seattle.
  • Take the Montlake Blvd. NE exit, then turn right (north) onto Montlake Blvd. and cross the Montlake Bridge.
  • Just past the bridge, turn left on NE Pacific St. and continue west. (You’ll pass UW Medical Center and the Health Sciences complex on your left.)
  • Turn right onto 15th Ave. NE and continue north two blocks to NE 41st St. The entrance to the Central Plaza Parking Garage is on your right.

Parking on campus

If you drive, we recommend getting to campus at least 30 minutes before your scheduled visit to allow time to park and find your way to your destination. When you arrive, visit one of the gatehouses to purchase a permit. The gatehouse attendant will direct you to a parking lot.

Housing

There are many convenient hotels located to the east or west of campus. Information about dorm accommodations will be available during registration. The cost will be about $60–130/night depending on the type of accommodation.

Seattle weather

Despite its rainy reputation, Seattle averages just 37.5 inches of rain a year — less than Miami. Seattle summers really shine: June through August, the average temperature is 71°F (~22°C), with maybe a week or two over 90°F (~32°C), usually in July.

For the latest weather updates on campus, check out The UW Dawgcast!

Seattle Tourist Information

Seattle is a vibrant city with lots to do for the whole family. Seattle Center, the Chihuly Glass Museum, the Olympic Sculpture Garden, the Seattle Art Museum, Pike Place Market, the Museum of History & Industry, and the Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks are well worth the visit. Kayaking or canoeing from the UW Waterfront Activities Center is a great way to explore the waterways of the Arboretum. For more on local tourist opportunities, see https://visitseattle.org/.

Also, Washington has many state and national parks for hiking, biking, camping, etc. Mt. Saint Helens is the park around the volcano that erupted in 1980, clearing the land for 5 miles around. Visitors get to witness the rebirth of the forest, which showcases wild flowers in the summertime. Mount Rainier is 14,410 feet tall, by far the tallest mountain in the state. The peak is difficult to access any time of year without a guide, but there are beautiful trails and views around 8,000 to 11,000 feet. The Olympic Peninsula has a rugged coastline and amazing interior open space for days of travel far from any road, plus it is the home of Forks, WA, where rain is measured in feet/year, not inches. The Washington Trails Association (WTA) maintains a fabulous crowdsourced resource on all of the hiking trails in the state.