Move-in weekend.
A law school interview.
Graduation with grandparents flying in.
Whatever brings you to Seattle University, you probably want a hotel you can walk to, not one that eats up an hour of your visit just getting there and back.
The best hotels near Seattle University are either right on campus in First Hill and Capitol Hill, or about a mile away in downtown Seattle.
Both work; they just work differently, and we’ll explain why. We looked at real walking distances from the main campus at 901 12th Ave, not straight-line map distances that ignore Seattle’s hills.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details. But the commission doesn’t decide our choice. See how we research and maintain our editorial standards.
Quick Note Before You Book:
Which “Seattle University” Do You Mean?
Here’s something many people and even search platforms like Google get wrong a lot, and it can send you to the wrong side of the city.
Seattle University is a private Jesuit school on First Hill, just east of downtown. The University of Washington is in the University District, several miles north, so hotels near one campus aren’t necessarily convenient for the other.
If you actually meant UW, explore hotels near the University of Washington here. That said, this post is only about Seattle University, the campus at 12th Avenue and East Marion Street.
Which Hotel Is Closest to Seattle University?
Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway is the closest hotel to Seattle University. It’s directly across the street from campus, at 1100 Broadway.
Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway At a Glance
- Location: 1100 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
- Best for: parents, visiting families, campus events
- Avoid if: you’re traveling with a pet
- Nearest transit: Broadway & Marion light rail stop, a 1 minute walk
- Parking: on-site, around $30 to $40 a night
If you want a downtown location with more restaurants nearby, that’s about a mile away. We cover both options below. Or explore the absolutely best Seattle downtown hotels here.
Comparison Table: Hotels Near Seattle University
| Hotel | Distance from Campus | Parking | Pool | Pet Friendly |
| Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway | Across the street | On-site, $30 to $40 | Indoor | No |
| Hotel Sorrento | 6 min walk | Valet, ~$65 | No | Yes, 2 pets |
| The Boylston Hotel Capitol Hill | 6 min walk | None on-site | No | No |
| Inn at Virginia Mason | ~10 min walk | Nearby, self-park | No | No |
| Mayflower Park Hotel | ~1 mile | No self-parking | No | No |
| Grand Hyatt Seattle | ~1 mile | Valet, ~$74 | No, hot tub only | Yes, 2 dogs |
| Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown | ~1 mile | Valet only | No | Call ahead |
| Hyatt Regency Seattle | ~0.9 miles | Self, $48 to $55 | No | Yes, 1 dog |
| Fairmont Olympic Hotel | ~0.8 miles | Valet, ~$65 | Indoor | Yes, dogs and cats |
9 Best Hotels Near Seattle University Campus, Ranked by Walk Time
We split this list into two groups. The first is truly walkable from campus. The second is downtown, about a mile away, and still a reasonable rideshare or bus ride. Downtown gives the best of both worlds, so that’s why we shared the second group as well.
1/ Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway
1100 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway is the hotel closest to Seattle University. It’s literally across the street. The hotel has an indoor pool and jacuzzi, which is rare this close to campus. Jimmy’s on Broadway, their on-site restaurant, does breakfast through dinner. Best of all? It’s an easy walk to the Link light rail too.
Pros:
- Directly across from campus
- Indoor pool and jacuzzi on-site
- One block from light rail
Cons:
- Pets are not allowed, no exceptions
- Parking runs about $30 to $40 a night
2/ Hotel Sorrento
900 Madison St, Seattle, WA 98104
Built in 1909, Hotel Sorrento is First Hill’s grand old landmark, about a 6 minute walk from campus. The Fireside Room, its wood-paneled lounge, has hosted live music and quiet gatherings for over a century. Go with this one if you want somewhere with real history and don’t mind paying a bit more.
Pros:
- Historic 1909 boutique landmark
- Pet-friendly, up to two pets
- Fireside Room lounge with live music
Cons:
- No pool
- Valet parking runs about $65 a night
3/ The Boylston Hotel Capitol Hill
1517 Boylston Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
The Boylston is a small, self-service aparthotel about 6 minutes on foot from campus. There’s no front desk. You check in with a digital code sent to your phone.
It’s a good fit if you’re comfortable with a contactless stay and want to save money. Just know there’s no elevator, so pack light if you’re on a higher floor.
Pros:
- Contactless check-in, no waiting around
- About 6 minutes from campus on foot
- Airport shuttle available for a fee
Cons:
- No elevator in this historic building
- No on-site parking or front desk staff
4/ Inn at Virginia Mason
1006 Spring St, Seattle, WA 98104
Inn at Virginia Mason is a quieter hotel option, tucked into First Hill’s medical district near Virginia Mason Medical Center. If you’re visiting a patient or attending an appointment along with a campus visit, the location does double duty.
It’s smoke-free, and non-airconditioned (skip if that’s a problem for you). The rooftop terrace is a nice place to unwind after walking around downtown all day. And if you genuinely love rooftops, explore our top picks for Seattle’s rooftop bars.
Pros:
- Quiet First Hill setting
- Rooftop terrace with city views
- Close to First Hill hospitals if you need them
Cons:
- No pool
- Pets are not allowed
5/ Mayflower Park Hotel
405 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101
Mayflower Park is downtown, about a mile from campus. It’s one of the few hotels left in Seattle that’s still independently owned, running since 1927.
Andaluca, the in-house restaurant, is a solid choice for a family dinner after a campus tour. And it’s also just a 6-minute walk from Paramount Theatre Seattle.
Pros:
- Independently owned since 1927
- On-site restaurant and lounge
- Central downtown shopping location
Cons:
- No self-parking on-site
- Pets are not allowed
6/ Grand Hyatt Seattle
721 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Grand Hyatt is one of the best hotels near Seattle University. The university’s own visitor page points people toward this hotel, even though it’s about a mile from campus. The hot tub and sauna are a nice touch if you’re staying a few nights.
Pros:
- Recommended by Seattle University
- Hot tub, sauna and steam room
- Pet-friendly for up to two dogs
Cons:
- No traditional pool
- About a mile from campus, so plan for a short ride
7/ Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown by IHG
1113 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Crowne Plaza is a dependable downtown choice, roughly a mile from campus and close to Hotel Sorrento‘s neighborhood. It’s a solid pick if the closer hotels are sold out during graduation weekend.
Pros:
- Reliable mid-range downtown option
- 24-hour gym and on-site restaurant
- Often has availability when campus-area hotels sell out
Cons:
- Valet-only parking
- A mile from campus, not walkable in bad weather
8/ Hyatt Regency Seattle
808 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101
Hyatt Regency is the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest and another one Seattle University lists on its own visitor page. Self-parking here costs less than the valet-only hotels nearby.
Pros:
- Self-parking option, cheaper than valet
- Pet-friendly for one dog
- Recommended on Seattle University’s visitor page
Cons:
- No pool or hot tub
- About a mile from campus
9/ Fairmont Olympic Hotel
411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101
The Fairmont Olympic is one of the best luxury hotels near Seattle University, if you want to make the trip feel special. It’s a National Register landmark from 1924, with an indoor pool and two award-winning restaurants.
Pros:
- Indoor pool and full spa
- National Register of Historic Places
- Pet-friendly for dogs and cats
Cons:
- The priciest option on this list
- About 0.8 miles from campus
Hotels Close to Seattle University by Who’s Visiting
Parents dropping off a student: Silver Cloud Hotel makes move-in day easy. You’re right across the street, so hauling boxes back and forth isn’t a whole production.
Law school interviews or campus visits: Hotel Sorrento gives you somewhere quiet to prep, with a short walk to campus and to the Seattle Convention Center area if your trip includes other meetings.
Traveling with a dog: Hotel Sorrento and Fairmont Olympic both welcome pets, and Sorrento is the closer of the two to campus.
Budget-conscious students or alumni: The Boylston Hotel keeps costs down with its self-service model, though you’ll want to skip it if stairs are a problem.
Visiting a patient at a First Hill hospital too: Inn at Virginia Mason is right in the medical district, close to Virginia Mason, Swedish and Harborview.
Graduation weekend, when everything nearby is booked: Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt Regency Seattle are both a short ride downtown and are the two hotels Seattle University itself points visitors toward.
Should You Stay on Seattle University Campus or Downtown?
Stay near Seattle University campus if you want to walk everywhere and don’t mind fewer restaurant choices right outside your door.
Stay downtown if you want more dining and nightlife options, and you’re fine with a 10 to 15 minute rideshare to campus.
Skip the campus-adjacent hotels if you need a pool and pet-friendly rooms together. Silver Cloud has the pool but no pets. Hotel Sorrento has the pets but no pool. Only downtown’s Fairmont Olympic offers both (just so you know).
Parking, Cheap Options, and Real Talk by Our Editor
None of the hotels closest to Seattle University campus offer free parking. That’s just the truth about First Hill and Capitol Hill.
Silver Cloud Hotel has the cheapest on-site rate at around $30 to $40 a night. Everything else on this list runs higher, especially the valet-only downtown hotels.
If you’re searching for genuinely cheap hotels near Seattle University, we’ll be honest: true budget motels don’t really exist within walking distance of campus. The closest hotels here are boutique or business-class, not budget chains.
For apartment-style stays, a few extended-stay and short-term rental options exist downtown, though we’re focused on hotels with a real front desk and confirmed Booking.com listings here.
One more thing worth flagging. 👇
If a search result mentions a hotel near “600 University Street,” that’s actually referring to downtown Seattle’s University Street, not Seattle University the school.
The Fairmont Olympic, at 411 University Street, is the closest match, and it’s about 0.8 miles from campus, not next door.
Our Editor’s Pick Near Seattle University
Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway wins for pure convenience. You’re across the street from campus with an indoor pool to unwind after a long day of touring or moving in. If you’re traveling with a pet, Hotel Sorrento a few blocks away is the better call.
FAQs About Staying Near Seattle University
What hotels does Seattle University recommend for visitors?
Seattle University recommends several downtown hotels for visitors. Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt Regency Seattle are among its recommended options. Both sit about a mile from campus. They work well if you want downtown restaurants, shopping, and transit nearby.
Are there hotels near the Seattle University School of Law?
Yes. The School of Law is on Seattle University’s main campus at 12th Avenue and East Marion Street. Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway is the closest hotel option. Hotel Sorrento is another nearby choice, about a six-minute walk away.
How far are downtown Seattle hotels from Seattle University?
Most downtown hotels on this list sit about 0.8 to 1 mile from campus. The trip usually takes 10 to 15 minutes by rideshare. You can also use Seattle’s buses and light rail for the journey.
Which hotel near Seattle University is best for parents and families?
Silver Cloud Hotel – Seattle Broadway is the easiest choice for parents and families. It sits directly across the street from Seattle University. That makes move-in days, campus tours, and family visits much easier. The hotel also has an indoor pool and on-site restaurant.
