Getting to Stanford

San Francisco to Peninsula Area Map

Airports

Students generally fly into either San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). Both airports are about 20 miles (roughly 30 minutes by car) from campus. The San Jose airport is smaller, easier to navigate, and more accessible by public transportation. SFO, however, has all the advantages of a major international airport. While you might have longer waits at SFO, you’ll also have more flight options. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is another alternative. The drive can take over an hour, even without traffic. However, the airport does offer service from several low-cost carriers such as SkyBus and JetBlue.

From San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Door-to-door Vans

Many door-to-door shared-ride van services can take you directly from the airport to campus.  Reservations are optional. The vans serve on a walk up basis and pick up passengers on the departing/ticketing level from the roadway center island at all terminals. Vans typically cost around $25-35 for the first person and $6-10 for each additional rider. Be sure to ask the rate before you board.
Pre-arranged Vans

If you have made reservations with a van service, you can arrange for your driver to meet you at courtyards 1 and 4 of the Domestic Terminal and Courtyards A and G of the International Terminal.
Taxis

Taxis leave from designated zones outside of the baggage claim areas. Expect to pay around $80 for a trip to campus.
Rental Cars

The AirTrain Blue Line will take you to the Rental Car Center. AirTrain is SFO’s fully-automated people mover; it operates 24 hours a day and has stations in every terminal.
Public Transportation

From your terminal, take the AirTrain shuttle to the SFO Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Station, located on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal.
  • Take BART to the Millbrae Intermodal Transit Center.
  • Take Caltrain south to the Palo Alto Transit Center. For schedules and fares, check http://www.caltrain.com.
  • Take the Marguerite, Stanford’s free public shuttle, to campus. The A and B lines make frequent stops at the Palo Alto Transit Center.

You can also use the SamTrans bus system that serves the northern part of the Peninsula. Route KX will take you from SFO to the Stanford Shopping Center on El Camino, where the Marguerite A Line has a stop.

From San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Door-to-door Vans

At Terminal A, shuttles leave from the Ground Transportation Center at the south end of Baggage Claim; follow the covered walkway. From Terminal C, turn left when you exit the baggage claim area, (it’s a short walk to the shuttles). Fares range from $30 to $40. Be sure to ask the rate before you board.
Taxis

Taxis stationed outside of both terminals provide on-demand service. A trip to Stanford will cost between $40-$56.
Rental Cars

All of the major rental car companies have offices within the airport’s Rental Car Center. A free Rental Car Shuttle stops at both terminals.
Public Transportation

While less expensive, public transportation from the airport to Stanford requires several transfers and takes much longer than the private options listed above.
  • Take the free VTA line 10 Airport Flyer to the Santa Clara Transit Center. Buses leave every 15 minutes and operate seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.
  • Take Caltrain north to the Palo Alto Transit Center. See http://www.caltrain.com for schedules.
  • Take Stanford’s free shuttle service, the Marguerite, to campus. The A and B lines both make frequent stops at the Palo Alto Station.

From Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Door-to-door Vans

A number of shuttle services make pick-ups at Oakland Airport. Visit the airport’s website for a current listing.
Rental Cars

Take the Rental Car Shuttle from your terminal to the Rental Car Center, where most major car rental companies maintain an office. Shuttles run every 10 minutes.
Public Transportation

For a less expensive, and environmentally-friendly, way to get to Stanford:
  • Take the free AirBART shuttle from your terminal to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station.
  • Take the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Dublin/Pleasanton - SFO/Millbrae Line to Millbrae Intermodal Transit Center, just south of San Francisco. The fare is $4.40.
  • Take Caltrain south to the Palo Alto Transit Center. Tickets are $5.75; for schedules, check http://www.caltrain.com.
  • Take the Marguerite, Stanford’s free public shuttle, to campus. The A and B lines both make frequent stops at the Palo Alto Transit Center.

 

Driving Directions

From Highway 101 North & South (including SFO and SJC)
  1. Take the Embarcadero Road exit west toward Stanford.
  2. At El Camino Real, Embarcadero turns into Galvez Street as it enters the University.
  3. Stay in the left lane and continue towards the center of campus.
  4. At the first stop sign, Galvez will intersect Campus Drive, which circles campus.

From Highway 280 North & South
  1. Exit Alpine Road east towards Stanford.
  2. Continue east, turning right at the traffic light onto Junipero Serra Boulevard.
  3. You can either turn left at the first stoplight, for Campus Drive West, or at the second stoplight, for Campus Drive East.

From the East Bay (including OAK)
  1. Take I-880 South towards San Jose.
  2. Exit onto CA-84 West toward Dumbarton Bridge, which will take you across San Francisco Bay.
  3. Turn left at University Avenue and follow it through East Palo Alto and Palo Alto until it becomes Palm Drive.
  4. Go past one traffic light.
  5. At the next intersection, you can either turn left onto Campus Drive East or right onto Campus Drive West.

From El Camino Real
  1. Exit El Camino Real at University Avenue.
  2. Turn towards the hills (away from the center of Palo Alto).
  3. As you enter Stanford, University Avenue becomes Palm Drive.
  4. Go past one traffic light.
  5. At the next intersection you can either turn left onto Campus Drive East or right onto Campus Drive West.