Palo Alto travel guide
Palo Alto Tourism | Palo Alto Guide
You're Going to Love Palo Alto
With a population of 64 403, Palo Alto is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Palo Alto has to offer.
Where to Eat in Palo Alto
If you’re looking for affordable options, Nola - Palo Alto (535 Ramona Street) and Tai Pan (560 Waverley St) are great picks.
When to visit Palo Alto
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Palo Alto in July, when the average temperature is 66.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 78.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 48.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 3.2″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Palo Alto, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to Palo Alto
Plane
When flying to Palo Alto, you’ll arrive at Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 21 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Palo Alto include Air France, Aeromexico and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Palo Alto departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Palo Alto. The train journey from Palo Alto to Sacramento takes 1h 38m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $25 for a 3h 58m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Palo Alto is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 45 km from Palo Alto. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
You can travel by bus to Palo Alto using FlixBus or Greyhound. From Los Angeles, the bus ride to Palo Alto takes 169 km and will cost you around $25. From Santa Barbara, the ticket costs about $47 for a journey of 636 km.
Airlines serving Palo Alto
Where to stay in Palo Alto
Average rates range from around $274 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $566 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Stanford Motor Inn Palo Alto and Cardinal Hotel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Palo Alto
Most booked hotels in Palo Alto
Renting a car in Palo Alto
Renting a car in Palo Alto costs $57 per day, on average, or $172 if you want to rent if for 3 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 20% cheaper than airport locations in Palo Alto.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Palo Alto (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Palo Alto is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Hyundai Accent or similar) are, on average, 69% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Palo Alto
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$32/day
Intermediate SUV
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$39/day