Commuting from Tacoma to University of Washington?

I'm likely going to be living in Tacoma next year and I'm hoping to attend the University of Washington. Has anyone had experience commuting from Tacoma to the campus? How manageable is the travel?

Many students have made the commute from Tacoma to University of Washington, and their experiences vary quite a bit. Primarily, the commute depends on your mode of transportation and the time you usually travel.

If you're relying on public transportation, the trip could take around two hours each way. The Sound Transit buses have routes that directly connect Tacoma and the University District of Seattle, where the University of Washington's main campus is located. The times can vary depending on traffic, so it's best to look at the specific bus schedule and plan accordingly.

Alternatively, if you choose to drive, it would typically take you about an hour outside of rush hours. However, the I-5 corridor between Tacoma and Seattle can experience heavy traffic, especially during the morning and evening rush hours. This could potentially extend your commute time to an hour and a half or even two hours.

Plus, parking on or around the main campus can be pretty expensive and difficult to find. The university offers parking permits, but they can be costly. So, you'd have to factor that into your travel considerations as well.

Lastly, your class schedule can greatly affect how punishing or manageable the commute is. Having back-to-back classes five days a week can make the commute quite exhausting. However, if you're able to arrange your schedule so that you have blocks of classes on fewer days, then the commute would become a bit more manageable.

Overall, it's definitely possible to make the commute from Tacoma, but you'll want to be strategic in managing your time and schedule. Look into options like carpooling, maximize your time on public transportation by studying or relaxing, and schedule your classes in the most effective way possible to minimize travel time.