Plan Your Visit
When planning your trip, consider browsing the links below to find resources for transportation, campus information, lodging, and places of interest in and around the Stanford community.
Getting Here
For general information about transportation to campus, visit the Stanford Transportation website.
Airports
San Francisco International (SFO) is approximately 25 miles north and San Jose International (SJC) approximately 20 miles south of Stanford. Both airports offer public transport, shuttle, and hire car options that will get you here. Oakland International (OAK) is also an option but is further from campus and can be more difficult to travel to/from using public transport and shuttles.
Public Transportation
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) provides limited transit service on the San Francisco Peninsula and throughout the East Bay. BART services do not extend past the Millbrae Station. Stanford riders can connect to BART via Caltrain and bus connections at the following stations:
Millbrae – served by Caltrain
Fremont – served by the Line U East Bay Express
Union City – served by the Dumbarton Express
Caltrain connects San Francisco and San Jose (including both airports) with a stop in Palo Alto. Attendees using Caltrain should get off at the Palo Alto station.
Campus Transportation
Marguerite, Stanford's free shuttle service, meets most Caltrain services at the Palo Alto station and can take you to many popular destinations on campus. See the Live Shuttle Map.
Additionally, there will be some special shuttle routes added on Saturday and Sunday for the Caltrain, the President's Reception, and to the parking lots. Details will be posted closer to the weekend.
Parking
Information about parking for Commencement will be added as we get closer to the weekend.
Lodging & Dining
The Stanford campus and surrounding areas offer a wide range of lodging and dining options, however not all locations may be open or available during Commencement Weekend. Please contact establishments directly to confirm status and hours of operation.
Lodging
On Campus
The only hotel owned and operated by Stanford University, Stanford Guest House welcomes guests of Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford Medicine. Guests require both an affiliation to one of these organizations and an educational purpose for their visit.
Off Campus
We recommend contacting the hotels directly to inquire about special rates as all pricing and reservations are handled separately through the hotels and not by the university. Please note that the lodging options linked below are not operated by Stanford University and are included as a courtesy.
Lodging in the Silicon Valley area
Dining
Cafe and retail food locations on campus
Dining options at the Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce restaurants and cafes list
Palo Alto Online's Best of 2024 restaurants
Palo Alto Online's Best of 2024 food and drink
*Check with establishments to confirm operating status and hours.
Visitor & Area Information
Helpful information for visitors including history, facts, news, and weather for Stanford and the surrounding areas.
Stanford information
Bay Area information
Santa Clara visitor information
Visit California: Spotlight on Silicon Valley
The Mercury News (Silicon Valley)
Campus maps and points of interest
Commencement Maps (links will be added closer to the weekend)
Stanford Stadium Map
School, Department, and Program Ceremonies Map
Stanford maps
Stanford online searchable map
Other campus maps and resources
Points of interest and things to do on campus
Please reach out to confirm hours of operation as some attractions may not be open during Commencement
Stanford University's Land Acknowledgment Statement
Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and make visible the University’s relationship to Native peoples.
Please note that some of these websites are not maintained by Stanford University and may change without notice. The information on this page is provided for your convenience and does not constitute an endorsement.