The University of Washington main campus is located in Northeast Seattle, just north of Lake Union and the Ship Canal, and east of Interstate 5. The central campus is bounded on the west by 15th Avenue NE, on the east by 25th Avenue and Montlake Boulevard, on the north by NE 45th Street, and on the south by NE Pacific Street. Here is a map of the university area.
The Department of Applied Mathematics is located on the 4th floor of Guggenheim Hall (circled in red on this campus map) near the Drumheller Fountain.
By shuttle van: After you get your baggage, follow the signs directing you to ground transportation, located on the 3rd floor of the parking garage. From the baggage claim level, go up one floor via escalator or elevator and walk across the sky bridge to the garage, then go back down to the 3rd floor and follow the signs to the Shuttle Express booth, alongside the ground transportation information center. The fare to the University District is $23 ($29 for two people). Driving time is 30-45 minutes, depending on the traffic and number of passengers to be dropped off.
By airport express bus: Board the Gray Line Airport Express bus at either end of the airport baggage claim area, where buses leave every half hour from 5:20 AM to 11:20 PM. Get off the bus at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle (5th & Stewart), and transfer to Metro bus #74 or #66 heading northeast, on the southeast corner of 5th & Stewart. Exit the bus at NE 42nd Street and walk east (to your right); the campus is just across 15th Ave NE. One-way fare is $10.25 for Gray Line (tickets can be purchased at the booth next to the boarding area), plus $1.25 or $1.50 for Metro (exact change required), depending on the time of day. Travel time to UW is about 50-60 minutes, depending on your bus connection. For more info, see the Gray Line Airport Express web page.
By Metro bus: Just outside the baggage claim area, board bus #194 northbound to downtown Seattle (buses leave approximately every half hour). Request a transfer when you pay your fare. Exit the bus in downtown Seattle: when the underground bus tunnel is open (weekdays until 7PM and Saturdays until 6PM), get off at any station in the tunnel; at other times, get off at 3rd Avenue and Union Street on the surface. Transfer to bus #71, #72 or #73 northbound to the University District. Exit the bus at NE 42nd Street and 15th Ave. NE; the campus is directly to your right. The fare is $1.25 or $2.00 (exact change required), depending on the time of day. Travel time to UW is about an hour. For more information, contact Metro Transit (206-553-3000); 24-hour automated schedules are available at 206-BUS-TIME (206-287-8463).
From the South: Take Interstate 5 North. Drive through downtown Seattle. Do not get on the express lanes. Proceed to exit 169. Take 45th Street to the east, proceeding about 10 blocks to 15th Ave. Turn right and drive to 41st Street. Turn left in the central parking garage and ask for visitor parking.
From the North: Take Interstate 5 South. Do not get on the express lanes. Proceed to exit 169. Take 45th Street to the east, proceeding about 10 blocks to 15th Ave. Turn right and drive to 41st Street. Turn left in the central parking garage and ask for visitor parking.
From the East: (I-90) Take I-90 to I-5 North. Drive through downtown Seattle, and proceed to exit 169. Take 45th Street to the east, proceeding about 10 blocks to 15th Ave. Turn right and drive to 41st Street. Turn left in the central parking garage and ask for visitor parking.
UW Commuter Services administers campus parking, and its web site is authoritative. It has a section specifically for visitors, and their Frequently Asked Questions list has visitor parking information listed first.
The most convenient parking for single visits to the Department of Applied Mathematics is located in the Central Plaza Garage (marked in orange), which you enter from 15th Avenue across from 41st Street through Gate 1. Another parking option is the Padelford parking garage (lots N16, N18, N20, and N22). These options cost $11 during weekdays as of 23 Jan 2008, but prorated refunds are available for stays shorter than four hours. The Montlake E1 lot costs $5, but it's further away.