Where is Gonzaga University, how do I get there, and which airport should I fly to?
Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, is seen in this May 2018 window view shortly after takeoff from Spokane International Airport (GEG).
Image: The Window Flyer
Does Gonzaga exist? That was a question jokingly posed by Jimmy Kimmel in a series of Jimmy Kimmel Live! segments back in 2019. The answer is yes, Gonzaga University very much exists, and you might be wondering how to get there.
ADVERTISEMENTInterested in visiting Gonzaga University?
Whether you’re a prospective college-bound high school student, admitted student, or a huge college basketball fan, Gonzaga might be on your radar for a campus visit. The university’s athletic program, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, also affectionately called the Zags, has national recognition for its basketball prowess, becoming an annual fixture in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball March Madness Tournament. As of 2021, the Gonzaga’s men’s basketball program has made 22 consecutive tournament appearances since 1999. Its women’s basketball program has also risen to prominence, making 12 total appearances since 2007.
Despite the program’s prominence, there are still a number of people who want to learn more about Gonzaga. Each March, around the time of the tournament, the university’s main Wikipedia page sees a spike in readership. For instance, in 2017 when the Zags made an appearance in the Men’s Basketball National Championship game against North Carolina, over 1,000,000 people viewed Gonzaga’s Wikipedia page in the days leading up to, during, and after the tournament.
McCarthey Athletic Center, on the Gonzaga University campus, is home to the Bulldogs’ NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/SS2027 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Gonzaga is in Spokane, Washington - fly to GEG (Spokane International Airport)
Spokane International Airport (KGEG) is the main airport serving Spokane and Gonzaga University.
Image: The Window Flyer
So, where is Gonzaga located? What city is Gonzaga in? What airport should I fly through to get to Gonzaga?
Gonzaga University is an urban campus, located in the heart of Spokane, Washington, adjacent to its downtown. Spokane is located in Eastern Washington, across the state from Seattle, near the Washington-Idaho border. Unless you live within the Pacific Northwest, you’ll probably want to fly into Spokane to visit.
WHICH IS THE BEST AIRLINE TO FLY TO SPOKANE AND GONZAGA?
Alaska Airlines is the largest carrier serving Spokane International Airport, operating out of Terminal C.
Image: The Window Flyer
Book your tickets for Spokane International Airport (IATA code GEG). Every major domestic airline, with the exception of jetBlue, Hawaiian, and Spirit, serves Spokane Airport. We would recommend Alaska, Southwest, or Delta for your trip to Gonzaga as those are the three largest carriers serving Spokane International Airport. Spokane is connected with nonstop flights from many of those airlines’ respective hubs such as Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis, Atlanta, etc.
American, United, Frontier, Sun Country, aha!, and Allegiant also serve Spokane, though with a smaller presence.
Related: Check out our travel guide for the Spokane International Airport.
How to travel between Spokane International Airport and Gonzaga?
Once you’ve arrived in Spokane, the Lilac City, getting to Gonzaga will be easy – it is located less than 10 miles from the airport and there are multiple ground transportation options at your disposal from the Spokane Airport.
Rental Car
If you are looking to see more of the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene region during your visit, the airport has a pretty robust selection of rental cars from all the major rental car companies. The airport’s main access highway feeds into Interstate 90 where you’ll want to take I-90 East toward Downtown Spokane. After about 3 miles, including a long descent down Sunset Hill, you’ll reach Downtown. Gonzaga can then be accessed by one of two exits just east of Downtown – Division St. exit (#281) or Trent Ave./Hamilton St. exit (#282). The campus is located about a mile north of the freeway (it will be on your right if you take the Division exit, and to your left if you take the Trent/Hamilton exit).
ADVERTISEMENTRideshare (Uber and Lyft)
A Lyft or Uber from Spokane International Airport to Gonzaga will run about $20-$25 one-way.
Image: Lyft
Both major app-based rideshare transportation network companies (TNCs), Uber and Lyft, serve the airport. Pickup spots are located near each terminal’s baggage claim. Uber and Lyft fares between the airport and Gonzaga will run about $20-$25 each way.
Public Transit
Spokane Transit Authority serves Spokane International Airport and has numerous routes that connect with the Gonzaga University campus.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Jdubman (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Spokane has a pretty decent public transit system for a city its size. If you’re a student who is too young to rent a car, don’t want to spend $20+ dollars for an Uber or Lyft, or an urbanite who simply prefers using transit, using Spokane Transit can be a great option where a two-hour pass costs just $2.00. The airport is linked to Downtown by bus service (Route #60) that runs from around 6:30am to 10:30pm during the week. Operating hours on weekends are slightly reduced, so we recommend checking the latest transit schedules on SpokaneTransit.com
Once you get downtown, Gonzaga is within walking distance of Downtown Spokane (roughly one mile along the scenic Centennial Trail), but if you prefer to use transit, there are four routes that serve the Gonzaga campus - #25 Division runs along its western boundary, #39 Mission runs along its northern boundary, and #26 and #28, Lidgerwood and Nevada run along its eastern boundary.
Starting in mid-2023, Spokane Transit will also be launching the City Line, a bus rapid transit line with buses running every 7.5 minutes at their peak. The route, which serves Downtown, will also run through the heart of the Gonzaga campus, including a stop right in front of the McCarthey Athletic Center, home of the Zags’ men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Hotel Shuttles
Most hotels in the downtown area run complimentary shuttles to and from the airport. Once at your hotel, the Gonzaga campus is within walking distance of the Downtown area.
Where can I stay during my trip to Gonzaga?
Given Gonzaga’s location adjacent to Downtown Spokane, there is a very diverse range of hotel and lodging options in and around the area.
The area boasts a number of national brands at different price points ranging from economy options such as Quality Inn; midscale options such as Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, LaQuinta, Hampton, or Doubletree; to higher end options such as Hotel Indigo, or any one of the Davenport Hotels, which are part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. There are also a few independently owned hotels within walking distance of the campus such as The Centennial, Ruby River Hotel, or the extended-stay Ruby Suites.
If you don’t mind driving farther, there are a number of options near the airport, including several hotels on-site at the Spokane Airport (such as the brand new SpringHill Suites), or the nearby Northern Quest Resort & Casino. Spokane Valley, an eastern suburb of Spokane, also has a number of hotel options with easy access to Interstate 90.
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Whether you are visiting Spokane and Gonzaga University as a prospective student, current student, parent of a student, Gonzaga fan, or all-around college basketball fan, there are a number of flight options into and out of Spokane International Airport (GEG), as well as a number of ground transportation options and lodging options nearby for you during your stay and campus visit.
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