Location & Community

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Tacoma earned the nickname “The City of Destiny” in the late 19th century as an up-and-coming port city and has long been home to artists, dreamers, trailblazers, and entrepreneurs.

The city of Tacoma, Washington, is a bustling urban center with a population of over 220,000 people. As part of a booming economic corridor that stretches from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Portland, Oregon, Tacoma stays true to its blue-collar roots while also nurturing vibrant arts, technology, and healthcare sectors.

The city boasts numerous historic neighborhoods, each with its own distinct identity. In Tacoma, you can find handmade gems at locally-owned shops on 6th Avenue; explore museums, browse through antiques, or catch a concert downtown; pick up fresh produce at a farmer’s market in the Proctor District; hike through old growth forest in Point Defiance Park; or go for a jog by the water along Ruston Way. In addition to walkable neighborhoods, Tacoma also boasts public transportation options, like buses and light rail, to help you explore the city.

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Downtown Tacoma — Tacoma is a vibrant city located on the shores of Commencement Bay in Washington’s beautiful Puget Sound region.

Students walking down the street — Tacoma is known for its thriving arts and cultural scene. It’s a destination for world-class dining, live music, museums, and more.

One of Tacoma's many hiking spots — Tacoma is close to nature. Point Defiance Park is a short bus ride from campus and Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, and the Pacific Ocean are a short drive away.

Tacoma Narrows, Tacoma, and Mount Rainier — Tacoma is the largest city in Pierce County and the third largest in Washington State.

Smiling people at an outdoor event — Tacoma hosts five farmer’s markets and dozens of festivals and fairs throughout the year.

Marina in Tacoma — Tacoma is surrounded by water on three sides, making it a perfect spot for kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, swimming, and fishing.

Campus view by drone — Tacoma is 60 miles northwest of Mount Rainier and boasts tremendous views of the mountain (the largest singular peak in the lower 48 states) all over town.

Neighborhoods

Tacoma is a diverse city and each neighborhood has its own hidden gems. Learn more about a few of the exciting neighborhoods close to our North End campus.

6th Ave.

Tacoma’s 6th Avenue district is less than a 10-minute walk from campus. This bustling street packs a lot into just 10 city blocks—upscale dining, casual hangouts, coffee shops, a record store, second-hand clothing boutiques, comic books, and more.

Proctor District

Located north of campus, the Proctor District is only a 20-minute walk from Puget Sound. Proctor is the place to go for coffee, locally-made ice cream, gift shops, a plant nursery, a movie theater, bowling, and tons of dining options. On Saturday mornings, this neighborhood also hosts the Proctor Farmer’s Market.

Tacoma as seen by drone, Friday, June 25, 2021

Stadium District

Tacoma’s picturesque Stadium District is a 30-minute walk from campus. Here, you’ll find Tacoma’s Stadium High School, made famous in the film 10 Things I Hate About You. It’s also home to Wright Park, W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, a bookstore, and lots of dining options.

Point Defiance

Point Defiance covers 760 acres of old growth forest and pebble beaches. Only a 15-minute drive from campus, this lush park boasts miles of hiking and running trails, Owen Beach, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, an off-leash dog park, rose and rhododendron gardens, and beach access for wading, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Point Defiance is also home to the Point Defiance Ferry Terminal, offering easy access to Vashon Island.

Ruston Way Waterfront

Just east of campus is Tacoma’s Ruston Way Waterfront. This coastal road connecting downtown to Point Defiance offers 2-miles of paved trail for walkers, runners, and bikers, and stunning views of Commencement Bay and Mount Rainier. You can learn about Tacoma’s history at Chinese Reconciliation Park or go fishing off Ruston Way’s many public piers. At the north end of Ruston Way, you’ll find Point Ruston, a hub for dining, shopping, and entertainment.

Downtown Tacoma

Downtown Tacoma is a 10-minute drive southeast of campus. This long stretch on either side of Pacific Avenue (or simply “Pac Ave”) features restaurants, a retro arcade, access to Thea Foss Waterway, the Tacoma Dome, and the city’s Museum District, Theater District, Antique Row, and the Brewery Blocks.

Hilltop

Located west of downtown, the Hilltop is just a 10-minute drive from campus. This historic neighborhood has been the heart of Tacoma’s Black community for generations, with a rich legacy reflected in the local businesses that still call the Hilltop home. The Hilltop neighborhood is home to amazing restaurants, gift shops, art studios and galleries, and more.

Lincoln International District

Tacoma’s Lincoln International District is the place to be for authentic Asian cuisine, locally owned shops, specialty grocery stores, and events like the annual food walk and Lunar New Year Celebration. This charming neighborhood is only a 15-minute drive south of Puget Sound’s campus.

University Place

University Place is a community located 5 miles southwest of campus. UP boasts Chambers Creek Regional Park, Chambers Bay Golf Course, a shopping district, restaurants and breweries, numerous parks and trails, and spectacular views of the Tacoma Narrows. In the 1920s, it was considered as the site for Puget Sound’s campus.

About Our Campus

University of Puget Sound has called Tacoma home since our founding in 1888 and we’ve been located on our beautiful, 97-acre campus in the North End since 1923. At Puget Sound, you’ll see neighbors walking their dogs, families riding their bikes, and community members engaging with our green spaces and events year-round.

Find Your Way Around Campus With Our Interactive Map

Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) Commitment

Puget Sound is your hometown university. That’s why we made the TPS Commitment—to meet the full financial need of eligible graduates from Tacoma Public Schools.

Learn About the TPS Commitment

About Seattle

You could easily spend four years exploring Tacoma, but at Puget Sound, you have the entire Pacific Northwest at your doorstep. Seattle is a vibrant, diverse city located just 30 miles north of Tacoma. Seattle is known for its music scene, coffee culture, professional sports teams, eclectic neighborhoods, fine dining, thriving technology sector, the flying fish at Pike Place Market, and the iconic Space Needle.

About the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful regions in the country. Within a few hours’ drive from campus, you can explore glaciers on Mt. Rainier National Park, trek through the wilderness of Olympic National Park, kayak on Puget Sound, ski in the Cascade Mountains, visit waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, pick apples in the Yakima Valley, glimpse orcas in the San Juan Islands, hike through the lush Hoh Rainforest, stroll through miles of colorful tulip fields in the Skagit Valley, or wade through tide pools by the Pacific Ocean.

For a long weekend or a Spring Break getaway, British Columbia, Portland, and the Oregon Coast are all easily reached from our campus in Western Washington. The Northwest is also the ideal jumping-off point to explore Asia and the vibrant Pacific Rim region.

A Bite of Tacoma

Students

University of Puget Sound Students Assess Geologic Threats to Mount Rainier National Park

It’s a warm summer day alongside Fryingpan Creek as Paige Shinall ’25 climbs into a pair of waders and prepares to step into the water. Moving carefully to avoid being swept away with the current, she places a flow meter into…