Getting Around Stanford

If you are arriving by car, via public transportation or from the airport, maps and directions are available, and visitor parking is located at various spots around campus. Stanford's Marguerite shuttle provides free transport to and from Caltrain and around campus. Finally, the searchable campus map allows visitors to locate particular buildings.

From Highway 101 North & South: Take the Embarcadero Road exit west toward Stanford. At El Camino Real, Embarcadero turns into Galvez Street as it enters the university. Stay in the left lane and continue toward the center of campus. There is metered parking in a lot on the right side Galvez Street, just past Memorial Way. A few hundred feet beyond this lot, Galvez ends at Serra Street, where there is more metered parking. The Visitor Information Center is in Memorial Hall, which is across from Hoover Tower on Serra Street. Please check parking signs carefully and note that most parking is monitored Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

From Highway 280 North & South: Exit 280 at Sand Hill Road, heading east. Make a right turn on Santa Cruz Avenue, then a left turn onto Junipero Serra Boulevard. Turn left at the second stoplight, Campus Drive East. Continue around Campus Drive East and turn left when you reach Serra Street, at the gas station.

From El Camino Real: Exit El Camino Real at University Avenue. Turn toward the hills (away from the center of Palo Alto). As you enter Stanford, University Avenue becomes Palm Drive. Go through one traffic light, and turn left onto Campus Drive at the first stop sign.

Caltrain is a commuter rail service that runs between Gilroy and San Francisco. There are two stops close to Stanford: one on California Avenue and another at the end of Palm Drive in downtown Palo Alto. The Stanford shuttle, called Marguerite, meets most trains at both the Palo Alto and California Ave. stations from 6 a.m. to 7:45 p.m Monday - Friday.

The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) runs buses to Palo Alto and most points south of Stanford. It also operates the light rail line in Santa Clara County.

SamTrans runs buses to most points north of Stanford. Five of their lines serve Stanford well.

The Dumbarton Express, used by many East Bay commuters, runs weekdays from the Union City BART station across the Dumbarton Bridge to the Palo Alto Caltrain station.

Stanford is roughly equidistant from San Jose and San Francisco airports. Sam Trans' Route KX might be the cheapest way to get to and from San Francisco International Airport. That bus stops in front of the Stanford Shopping Center on El Camino Real. The Stanford shuttle, connects there. Caltrain and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) connect at the Millbrae station and for an additional fee, there are BART trains that run directly to the airport. A number of private companies also provide shuttle transportation from the San Francisco and San Jose airports, and taxis serve the Stanford campus from both locations.