Stanford University is one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions. It is located in Palo Alto, California, approximately 20 miles (32 km) northwest of San Jose and 37 miles (60 km) southeast of San Francisco.
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
Stanford is roughly equidistant from the San Francisco and San Jose 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.
Learning More About the Airport Options
Helpful information about each airport, including all transportation options, is available at the SFGate.com Web site. Public transportation alternatives are listed on the Stanford Parking and Transportation Services Airport Transportation Web site.
Public Transit
Whether you are staying in Palo Alto or traveling from elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can reach Stanford by way of convenient public transportation.
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.
A set of basic directions to Stanford for travelers using public transportation is available on Stanford’s Bay Area Transit Web site.
Public Transit Resources
Weather
May at Stanford is typically sunny and warm (70s high, 50s low). That being said, be sure to check before you pack. Current Stanford weather is available at the Stanford Weather Station.
Dress
Dress is business casual (emphasis on casual) for most attendees but be prepared to see a range. Our advice is that no matter how you dress, dress for the weather. You can’t go wrong with “layering” even in May. In 2010 it was cold and rainy at the end of May. Last year we had record high temperatures at the beginning of May.
