Stanford is easily accessible from throughout the San Francisco Bay area, including San Francisco, Berkeley, and San Jose.
Maps
We encourage you to download and print both the Parking and Circulation Map and the Visitor Map and bring them with you.
Campus maps
Transportation maps
Area maps
If you are using a maps Web site to plan your route, the easiest way to locate Stanford is to enter our zip code 94305.
Directions
The following driving directions are to the Stanford Visitor Center.
From Highway 101 North & South
Exit onto Embarcadero Road and travel west, following the signs directing you to Stanford University. About three miles after you exit the freeway, Embarcadero Road becomes Galvez Street as you cross El Camino Real. Stay in the left lane and continue past the stadium. The entrance to the Visitor Center Lot is on the left just beyond Nelson Road.
From Highway 280 North & South
Exit onto Sand Hill Road and follow the signs for Stanford University. Heading east, drive approximately 3 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. Move to the left lane and continue past the stadium. The entrance to the Visitor Center Lot is on the left just beyond Nelson Road.
Airports
Stanford University is roughly equidistant from the San Francisco and San Jose airports.
Major airports
Three major airports serve the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco International (SFO), San Jose Mineta International (SJC), and Oakland International (OAK). We suggest comparing fares to all three airports, as there can be significant differences, even for the same airline.
Choosing airports
Although San Francisco is the largest of the three area airports and offers the most airlines and flights, some visitors find that San Jose’s smaller size makes it a somewhat more convenient alternative, especially for domestic flights. Oakland is also an option if you are arriving in the evening of during off-commute hours. The bridge to the Peninsula is not a problem except during the morning commute, and reverses in the evening. It is the smallest of these airports, but has the usual amenities.
Local Transportation
Stanford also has Zipcars available on the campus for those with Zipcar accounts.
Whether you are staying in Palo Alto or traveling from elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can reach Stanford Universtiy by way of convenient public transportation.
Options
The local transit hub for bus and train services at Stanford is the Palo Alto Caltrain Station, located near the main entrance to campus near the intersections of Palm Drive, University Avenue, and El Camino Real. The Stanford Marguerite Shuttle, the University’s free shuttle bus, operates several routes. Most provide service from the Caltrain Station to multiple campus locations.
If you are traveling from San Francisco or San Jose, Caltrain is your most convenient option. A one-way trip from San Francisco takes approximately one hour and costs about $5.75; a one-way trip from San Jose takes approximately 40 minutes and costs about $4.00. Caltrain also connects with stations and shuttles serving the San Francisco and San Jose International Airports. Also, Super shuttle - serves all three airports.
A set of basic directions to Stanford for travelers using public transportation is available on our Bay Area Transit website.
Public transit resources
