Plan Your Visit
Lodging
The areas surrounding campus offer a wide range of lodging options, however not all locations may be open or available during Commencement Weekend. Please contact establishments directly to confirm status.
Off Campus Limited Room Block
HBC Event Services is offering a limited amount of accommodations within the Bay Area during the June 13th weekend. Any arrangements and availability related to rooms listed through this booking link are at the sole discretion of HBC and available on a first-come, first served basis.
Additional Off Campus
We recommend contacting the hotels directly to inquire about special rates as all pricing and reservations are handled directly by each hotel. You may also wish to use online travel resources to find alternative lodging options. 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
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. The Stanford Guest House is available to families of graduating students on a first-come, first-served basis for Commencement.
Stanford Guest House *Note: For 2026, the lottery for Stanford Guest House is closed. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, you may email them at guesthouse@stanford.edu or call (650) 926-2800.
Student residence halls are not available for Commencement lodging.
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.
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.
On Campus Parking and Transportation
General parking
Parking for graduates, guests, and participants is available in the following locations:
Baccalaureate: Galvez Lot
Commencement: Galvez Lot, Arboretum Grove, Lasuen Grove, Eucalyptus Grove
See campus parking map
Disability parking and drop-off
Parking and drop-off for guests with state-issued or temporary Stanford-issued disabled parking permits is available in the following locations:
Commencement: Track House Lot, with overflow in the Galvez Lot.
Baccalaureate: Roth Way between Palm Drive and Lasuen Street.
See campus parking map
Rideshare drop-off
Commencement attendees using rideshare can be dropped off at the curb on Southbound El Camino Real, from Galvez St. to the grass soccer field. See rideshare drop-off map
Please remember to lock your vehicle and do not leave valuables inside. Parking attendants will not be monitoring parking areas closely.
Commencement Weekend On-Campus Transportation: Shuttles
Stanford offers various shuttle options to assist guests in navigating campus. All Marguerite shuttles are ADA-compliant, wheelchair accessible, and free of charge. In addition to regular service, special shuttle routes are added on Saturday and Sunday to connect guests between Caltrain, major parking hubs, and ceremony locations. These routes are specifically intended as an alternative for guests who cannot walk long distances.
Campus Shuttle (Marguerite)
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, special shuttle routes will be added on Saturday and Sunday for the Caltrain, the President's Reception, and to the parking lots. These shuttle schedules and stops will be added closer to the weekend.
- Live Updates: View the Live Shuttle Map for real-time tracking.
Saturday, June 13 - Baccalaureate & President’s Reception
- Baccalaureate
- Caltrain ↔ Oval | Palo Alto Caltrain Station (University Circle) to Top of the Oval | 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- President’s Reception
- Tresidder ↔ Hoover House | Tresidder Union (Bus Stop #28) to Hoover House (Cabrillo / Santa Ynez) | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Service departs Tresidder starting at 1:50 PM)
Sunday, June 14
- Caltrain ↔ Stadium | Palo Alto Caltrain Station (University Circle) to Stanford Stadium (Galvez & Nelson) | 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Galvez Loop | Galvez Lot (Campus Dr. @ Lasuen) to Commencement Shuttle Area | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Stadium ADA Loop | Serving Stanford Stadium (625 Nelson Rd) to Commencement Shuttle Area | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Galvez Supplemental | Galvez Lot (Campus Dr. @ Lausen) to Commencement Shuttle Area | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Post-Event Caltrain | Top of Oval (Bus Stop #96) to Palo Alto Caltrain Station | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Campus maps and points of interest
Commencement Maps - will be added closer to the weekend
Stanford Interactive Commencement Map
Commencement 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
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)
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 2025 restaurants
Palo Alto Online's Best of 2025 food and drink
*Check with establishments to confirm operating status and hours.
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.