Plan Your Visit to Stanford

Airports

San Francisco International (SFO) is approximately 25 miles north and San Jose International (SJC) approximately 20 miles south of Stanford. Both airports offer public transportation, shuttle, and ridesharing options that will get you here. Oakland International (OAK) is also an option but is further from campus and can be more difficult to travel to/from using public transport and shuttles.

Public Transportation

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) provides limited transit service on the San Francisco Peninsula and throughout the East Bay. BART services do not extend past the Millbrae station. Riders can connect to BART via Caltrain and bus connections at the following stations:

• Millbrae – served by Caltrain
• Fremont – served by the Line U East Bay Express
• Union City – served by the Dumbarton Express

Caltrain connects San Francisco and San Jose (including both airports) with a stop in Palo Alto. Visitors using Caltrain should get off at the Palo Alto station and take the Marguerite shuttle to campus.

See the Stanford Transportation website for more information about getting to campus using public transit.

Directions

From Highway 101 North & South - Exit onto Embarcadero Road and travel west, following the signs directing you to Stanford University. About three miles after exiting the freeway, Embarcadero Road becomes Galvez Street as you cross El Camino Real. Stay in the left lane and continue past the stadium. The Track House Parking Lot and Stanford Visitor Center will be on your left.

From Highway 280 North & South - Exit onto Sand Hill Road and follow the signs for Stanford University. Heading east, drive approximately three miles to the Stanford Shopping Center. Turn right onto Arboretum Road (Nordstrom is on your right). Stay on Arboretum until it ends, then turn right onto Galvez Street. The Track House Parking Lot and Stanford Visitor Center will be on your left.

General parking

• Paid parking is available in the Track House Lot , located next to the Stanford Visitor Center .
• Please remember to lock your vehicle and do not leave valuables inside.

Marguerite Shuttle

• Marguerite is Stanford's free shuttle service and is open to the public – no ID required. All buses are wheelchair-accessible and have bike racks. See the live shuttle map .

Bike rentals

• Another favorite way of getting around campus is by bicycle. Bicycles are available for rent at the campus bike shop at Tresidder Union .

Navigating campus

• Stanford campus searchable map
• Parking and transportation map
  
  

The Stanford campus and surrounding areas offer a wide range of lodging options. Stanford does not reserve hotel blocks and all pricing and reservations are handled separately through the hotels and not by the university.

Lodging options near campus

Here is a list of dining options on or near the Stanford University campus. Remember to check with establishments to confirm operating status and hours.

• Campus eateries map
• Cafe and retail food locations on campus
• Dining options at the Stanford Shopping Center
• Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce restaurants and cafes list

Below, please find helpful information for your visit including history, facts, news, and weather for Stanford and the surrounding areas.

Stanford information

• Stanford visitor information
• Stanford weather
• Stanford facts
• Stanford history
• About Stanford
• Stanford News
• Stanford Daily
• Stanford Magazine
• Stanford Shopping Center

Bay Area information

• Visit California: Spotlight on Silicon Valley
• Palo Alto Online
• San Francisco Chronicle
• The Mercury News (Silicon Valley)