Most Stanford families fly into SJC or SFO, then finish the trip by car, rideshare or Caltrain to Palo Alto. On campus, visitor parking is paid through ParkMobile at $4.46 an hour.
20 miles from campus
Stanford's Family Weekend travel page calls SJC the closest airport, about 20 miles south of campus. VTA Route 60 stops at Terminal A and Terminal B and runs between Milpitas BART and Winchester Station by way of the Santa Clara Transit Center. Stanford notes that Caltrain connects the San Jose area with the Palo Alto station, where the free Marguerite shuttle takes riders onto campus.
25 miles from campus
About 25 miles north of campus, with the widest flight availability, according to Stanford. The SFO BART station is in the International Terminal, one to three minutes by AirTrain from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Stanford names Millbrae as the BART station served by Caltrain. From there Caltrain runs south to Palo Alto, where Stanford says to take the free Marguerite shuttle to campus.
Stanford describes Oakland as farther away with fewer transit options. It lists BART connections at Millbrae (Caltrain), Fremont (East Bay Express bus) and Union City (Dumbarton Express bus) for riders coming from the East Bay.
San Jose Mineta International (SJC) is the closest airport, about 20 miles south of campus, according to Stanford's Family Weekend travel page. VTA Route 60 stops at Terminal A and Terminal B and runs between Milpitas BART and Winchester Station by way of the Santa Clara Transit Center.
San Francisco International (SFO) is about 25 miles north and has the widest flight selection. The SFO BART station is in the International Terminal, one to three minutes by AirTrain from Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Stanford names Millbrae as the place BART meets Caltrain, and Caltrain continues south to Palo Alto.
Oakland International (OAK) is farther away with fewer transit options, Stanford says. It can still make sense when fares are much lower.
The Palo Alto Caltrain station is the rail doorway to campus. From there, Stanford's Marguerite shuttle takes riders to campus. It is free, open to the public and needs no Stanford ID, and every Marguerite bus is wheelchair accessible. For the most recent Family Weekend, Stanford also ran a Family Weekend shuttle in a continuous loop on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., stopping at places like the Main Quad, Cantor Arts Center, Maples Pavilion and Tresidder Union.
Campus parking is paid through ParkMobile. Stanford Transportation lists the main campus visitor rate at $4.46 an hour or $35.68 a day, plus a $0.40 transaction fee. You can check out on the web as a guest with no app, pay by phone at 877.727.5718, or use the ParkMobile app. Enter the zone number posted on the green signs in your lot, and use Stanford Transportation's visitor parking maps to find designated spaces.
For the most recent Family Weekend, Stanford opened the Galvez Lot, Track House Lot, Varsity/Sunken Diamond Lot, Maples Lot, Knight Management Center Garage and Roth Way Garage free of charge on a first come, first served basis. It also noted that most campus parking was free after 4 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Accessible parking that weekend was in the Galvez and Track House lots, with a limited mobility drop off on Galvez Street. Check the 2027 Plan Your Visit page before counting on the same setup.
Stanford does not reserve room blocks or negotiate rates for Family Weekend. Its travel page sends families to lodging lists for Palo Alto, Redwood City and the wider Silicon Valley area.
Two weekends put the most pressure on rooms near campus: Family Weekend in late February and Commencement in mid June. Before Commencement 2026, Stanford asked families from outside the Bay Area to book as soon as possible, ran a lottery for the Stanford Guest House, and pointed families to an outside company offering limited accommodations. The Stanford Guest House page already lists a lottery for Commencement 2027, with those selected notified in mid December 2026. Treat Commencement 2027 the same way and book well ahead, then widen your search to Redwood City or Mountain View if prices near campus climb.
We don't take money from hotels. This list is based on location and what parents in our group recommend.
Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park (2575 Sand Hill Road)
Family weekend: Listed as the on campus option on Stanford's Family Weekend Plan Your Visit page
Operated by Stanford. Guests need an affiliation with Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory or Stanford Medicine, plus an educational purpose for the visit.
El Camino Real, Palo Alto (625 El Camino Real)
The hotel describes itself as near Stanford University and within walking distance of Caltrain. Stanford's Graduate School of Education lodging guide marks it as a hotel with shuttle service to Stanford or close to Marguerite stops.
El Camino Real, Palo Alto (711 El Camino Real)
Destination Palo Alto lists it as close to Stanford. Phone (650) 322-7111.
Downtown Palo Alto (235 Hamilton Ave)1 mile from campus
The hotel states it is approximately 1 mile from Stanford University.
El Camino Real, Menlo Park (100 El Camino Real)
Listed in the Stanford Graduate School of Education lodging guide. The hotel describes itself as near Stanford University.
South El Camino Real, Palo Alto (4290 El Camino Real)
Marked in the Stanford Graduate School of Education lodging guide as a hotel with shuttle service to Stanford or close to Marguerite stops. Ask the hotel which applies before you count on a shuttle.
South El Camino Real, Palo Alto (3400 El Camino Real)
Marked in the Stanford Graduate School of Education lodging guide as a hotel with shuttle service to Stanford or close to Marguerite stops. Ask the hotel which applies before you count on a shuttle.
Booking tip
Rooms near Stanford sell out first on these dates, so book as soon as your plans are set:
What the listings say about busy weekends:
San Jose Mineta International (SJC), about 20 miles south. San Francisco International (SFO) is about 25 miles north and has the widest flight selection.
Yes. Take BART from the SFO station in the International Terminal to Millbrae, transfer to Caltrain south to Palo Alto, then ride Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle onto campus.
Stanford Transportation lists main campus visitor parking at $4.46 an hour or $35.68 a day, plus a $0.40 transaction fee. You pay through ParkMobile on the web, by phone or in the app, using the zone number on the green signs.
No. Stanford does not reserve a room block or arrange special rates, so contact hotels directly. The Plan Your Visit page links to lodging lists for Palo Alto, Redwood City and Silicon Valley.
The Stanford Guest House on Sand Hill Road is run by the university, but guests need a Stanford, SLAC or Stanford Medicine affiliation and an educational purpose for the visit. Stanford's travel page points other visitors to hotels in Palo Alto, Redwood City and the wider Silicon Valley.
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